Challenges of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya free essay sample

The meaning of undertakings as indicated by staff headcount and turnover or monetary record absolute is basic for distinguishing organizations ready to profit by European Union (EU) projects or strategies explicitly intended for little and medium-sized ventures (SMEs) Challenges Facing SMEs in Kenya It is commonly perceived that SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) face exceptional difficulties, which influence their development and productivity and subsequently, reduce their capacity to contribute viably to supportable turn of events. In this article, the accompanying difficulties are quickly talked about: Lack of Managerial Training and Experience, Inadequate Education and Skills, Lack of Credit, National Policy and Regulatory Environment, Technological Change, Poor Infrastructure and Scanty Markets data, absence of Managerial Training and Experience. Numerous SMEs proprietors or administrators need administrative preparing and experience. The run of the mill proprietor or chiefs of independent companies build up their own way to deal with the board, through a procedure of experimentation. Accordingly, their administration style is probably going to be more instinctive than diagnostic, more worried about everyday activities than long haul issues, and more sharp than vital in its idea (Hill 1987). Despite the fact that this mentality is the key quality toward the beginning up phase of the undertaking since it gives the imagination required, it might introduce issues when complex choices must be made. A result of poor administrative capacity is that SME proprietors are badly arranged to confront changes in the business condition and to design suitable changes in innovation. Greater part of the individuals who run SMEs are normal parcel whose instructive foundation is inadequate. Consequently they may not well prepared to do administrative schedules for their ventures (King and McGrath 2002). Deficient Education and Skills Education and aptitudes are expected to run smaller scale and little endeavors. Research shows that dominant part of the parcel doing smaller scale and little ventures in Kenya are not exactly well prepared regarding instruction and abilities. Study proposes that those with more instruction and preparing are bound to be effective in the SME part (King and McGrath 2002). All things considered, for private companies to do well in Kenya, individuals should be very much educated as far as aptitudes and the executives. SMEs in ICT seem, by all accounts, to be doing admirably with the growing of numerous business schools offering different PC applications. Further, contemplates show that a large portion of those running SMEs in this part have at any rate achieved school level training (Wanjohi and Mugure, 2008). Absence of Credit Lack of access to credit is generally shown as a key issue for SMEs. This influences innovation decision by restricting the quantity of choices that can be thought of. Numerous SMEs may utilize a wrong innovation since it is the just a single they can manage. Now and again, even where credit is accessible, the business visionary may need opportunity of decision in light of the fact that the loaning conditions may drive the acquisition of overwhelming, ardent gear that can fill in as guarantee for the advance. Credit imperatives work in assortment of courses in Kenya where lacking capital market powers business people to depend on self-financing or getting from companions or family members. Absence of ccess to long haul credit for little undertakings compels them to depend on significant expense momentary account. There are different other monetary difficulties that face little endeavors. They incorporate the significant expense of credit, high bank charges and charges. The situation saw in Kenya especially during the peaking time of the year 2008 affirms the requirement for credit among the normal and low winning business visionaries. Various cash moneylenders for the sake of Pyramid plans came up, promising expectation among the ‘little investors,’ that they can make it to the monetary opportunity through delicate acquiring. The method of reasoning behind going to these plans among a decent number of business people is basically to look for options and delicate credit with low loan costs while making benefits. Budgetary requirement stays a significant test confronting SMEs in Kenya (Wanjohi and Mugure, 2008). National Policy and Regulatory Environment The national arrangement and administrative condition importantly affects innovation choices at the venture level. The auxiliary change programs (SAPs) executed in numerous African nations are planned for evacuating substantial approach mutilations, which have been seen as inconvenient to the development of the private division. SAPs will in general seriously influence helpless gatherings in the short run and have been related with the compounding everyday environments in numerous African nations (USAID 1991). The discoveries in the examination by Wanjohi and Mugure (2008) demonstrate that business condition is among the key factors that influence the development of MSEs. Erratic government arrangements combined with ‘grand corruption,’ high tax collection rates, all keep on presenting incredible danger, not exclusively to the maintainability of SMEs yet in addition to the Kenyan economy that was picking up energy following quite a while of wastage during KANU time. Mechanical Change Change of innovation has represented an incredible test to independent ventures. Since the mid-1990s there has been a developing worry about the effect of mechanical change on crafted by smaller scale and little ventures. Indeed, even with change in innovation, numerous independent venture business visionaries seem, by all accounts, to be new to new advancements. The individuals who appear to be all around situated, they are frequently ignorant of this innovation and on the off chance that they know, it isn't either locally accessible or not reasonable or not arranged to nearby conditions. Remote firms despite everything stay in the front line in getting to the new advances. In the greater part of the African countries, Kenya comprehensive, the test of interfacing indigenous little ventures with outside speculators and accelerating mechanical overhauling still continues (Muteti, 2005). There is advanced pide between the provincial and urban Kenya. With no force gracefully in the vast majority of the provincial zones, it is close to difficult to have Internet availability and access to data and systems that are center in any endeavor. In this way mechanical change, however intended to realize financial change even among the country parcel, doesn't seem to reply to the predicament of the rustic business people. Poor Infrastructure Poor foundations represent a significant test to little ventures in Kenya. In Kenya, the arrangement of better foundations has falled behind over years. There are poor streets, deficient power flexibly. As per the procedures of the National Investment Conference, November 2003, Kenya despite everything remains needing better frameworks. It has been the vow NARC government (when it took over from KANU in 2002) to improve the foundations, however there is yet a lot to be finished. Insufficient Markets Information (data asymmetry) Lack of adequate market data represents an incredible test to little endeavors. In spite of the immense measure of exchange related data accessible and the chance of getting to national and universal databases, numerous little undertakings keep on depending intensely on private or even physical contacts for advertise related data. This is because of failure to decipher the factual information (Muteti, 2005) and poor availability particularly in rustic territories. Since there is immense measure of data and just absence of factual information to decipher and Internet availability, little ventures business visionaries should be upheld. With availability being improved (by associating Kenya comprehensively through Fiber Optic Cable venture) there is reestablished trust in the SMEs. End and Recommendations One significant inquiry we should present is: what arrangement can be offered to the situation of little undertakings in Kenya? For one, approaches should plan to empower and advance the improvement of neighborhood innovations. Accentuation ought to be on the advancement of the nearby apparatus industry to decrease dependence on imports. SMEs are said to confront a risk of littleness. On account of their size and asset impediments, they can't grow new advancements or to roll out fundamental improvements in existing ones. All things considered, there is proof that SMEs can possibly start minor mechanical advancements to suit their conditions. Nonetheless, for SMEs to completely create and utilize this potential, they need explicit strategy measures to guarantee that innovation administrations and framework are given. Further, innovative work establishments that are openly supported ought to be urged to focus on the innovation needs of SMEs. Also, the issue of access to data might be ascribed to the deficiency of SME bolster foundations. This focuses to the requirement for a strong strategy to energize the foundation of documentation focuses and data systems to give data to SMEs at a moderate cost. Thirdly, the legislature should think of preparing habitats for preparing administrative and specialized courses for the little ventures business visionaries. Similarly, there ought to be business data focuses. Fourthly, government should think of appropriate administrative arrangements that are little endeavors inviting since a large number of what we have in Kenya, baffles each exertion of a lesser business person. The strategies we have appear to think about the settled organizations. Since lion's share of little undertakings need money, government ought to set up amicable little advancing framework. This would incorporate low interests rates to guarantee the coherence of these organizations. SMEs have the possibility of changing the economy of a devastating country. Thusly, every exertion ought to be made to support their development. By Anthony M. Wanjohi is an accomplished Researcher (training and sociologies), Educator, and an Author. He is qualified in both characteristic and sociologies. He holds postgraduate recognitions, one in training and another in ventures the executives (both from The Catholic University of Eastern Afric

Do HR policies enhance employee productivity and hence should be used Essay

Do HR arrangements upgrade representative efficiency and subsequently ought to be utilized as a business technique to accomplish a cost points of interest - Essay Example agers [2 from enormous assembling association, 1 from little medium size telecom association, 1 each from little size fund and little size help organizations], uncovered that the HR supervisors were engaged with routine capacities like organization, documentation, preparing and advancement and peace making. Further, the key jobs and its traits were introduced as the capacity to anticipate future and survey the changing business needs and conditions and to get ready for them. The principle study incorporates questions created based on the discoveries of the starter study and the writing audit. The fundamental research included overseeing a survey to fifty HR supervisors [20 from assembling with 15 enormous associations and 5 Small-Medium; 10 from huge telecom association; 10 each from little money and administration organizations] from 15 associations. - The bigger firms have HR directors who are progressively engaged with the hierarchical procedure and notwithstanding the authoritative obligations likewise give direction in strategy improvement and evaluating the future HR needs. - There is likewise a distinction in the job of the HR administrators across various parts. Assembling associations give more self-sufficiency, and their HR administrators are increasingly engaged with dynamic, and give more system related help. Preparing and advancement exercises take up a significant piece of all HR managers’ time. General Management is the administration of the authoritative assets and procedures in a way that positive gins could be achieved out of the venture. General Management along these lines includes exercises like arranging, sorting out, rousing, controlling, driving and struggle overseeing. With the beginning of the industrialization, the domain of General Management extended to incorporate exercises like procedure administrations and innovation the board (Kroon 2005). Further, moved by the different analysts and scholastics, the administration thought advanced to make the HR

Understanding the Contract Essay - 275 Words

Understanding the Contract (Essay Sample) Content: Understanding the ContractNameInstitution Understanding the contractA legal contract refers to the binding agreement between parties either individual or multiple groups. The agreement defines the nature of activities binding the parties in a given exchange. Legal contracts entail an offer, acceptance of the available proposal and satisfactory contemplation in favor of both the offer and approval. Legal contracts explain reasonable certainty engaging the parties in proceeding activities. Legal description to formality entails appropriate age, logical mental possession and authorized potential.Understanding the contract is to enable an absolute compliance of designated rule. This is to clarify on the consequences that engage the agreement in respect to the offer and promise. Understanding a contract sensitizes on the matters of consent enabling effective agreement returns. The validity of a contract is obtained through a mutual understanding between the parties. This f ramework provides legal execution with regards to duration. By understanding the contract, both parties acknowledge the nature of the transaction. The significance of understanding the contract translates to exploitation of the cancellation options. This includes contract cancellation safe modes without attracting fines.Contract analysis also provides a platform for renegotiation, contract exit and acceptance. These categorical approaches define the level of satisfaction and depict the commitment rate between the parties. Worst case scenarios include violation of the contract agreement. This scenario leads to legal pursuit leading to a jail term or maximum refund of t...

Software - 1632 Words

Principle of Software Engineering Table of Contents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Boehms First Law 4 Boehms Second law 5 Conways law 5 Parnas Law 6 Corbatà ³ Law 7 Observation 8 Theory 9 Law 9 Question 3 10 Law 11 References 12 Abstract The purpose of the study is to show the capability to understand the set of laws that are the part of principles of the software engineering. In this paper, it is discussed that there are many laws related to the software engineering but only few of them are to be addressed. Boehm first and second law, Conway’s laws, Parnas laws Corbato law were discussed with examples. There are two relationship processes that are also discussed,†¦show more content†¦For instance, Science Applications International Corporation developed special software package that would be send to 250 to 500 field personnel and team according to organizational structure. The software will be further transferred to the organizational employees as per the departmental structure. Parnas Law David Parnas develop the Law of Hiding the information in Modular Programming. The types of thing are hidden is the information in the modular programming. When the design decision changed, they are hidden through the programming to protect the other parts from the general alteration. In other words, it also states that information hiding is the aptitude to avoid positive aspect of class from being available to its client by using other programming features. For example, Adabas developed dedicated software using a programming language known as Natural. The software allowed the agents and clerks to use it for basic purposes only. However, more advance usage of the program was hidden from the low-level support and only expert programming agents had the access to this software. When you change something, the main risk should appear in the software development process, the code is changed through the shifting process and the design decision should change the interface as well as the whol e backhand process (Merz et.al, 2014). Corbatà ³ Law Productivity and reliability rely upon the length of a program’s content, free of dialect level utilization.Show MoreRelatedSoftware Requirements : The Software1388 Words   |  6 PagesSoftware requirements: †¢ The software have a very user friendly interface. This will help the user make proper utilization of the software. †¢ A proper debugging method must be set up so as to ensure the prevention of all bugs. The lesser amount of the bugs, the better more efficient the software works. †¢ The coding involved should be accurate and critical. It is because of the fact that when the software is on the verge of modification, it’ll be easy to finally work on the software. 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It also includes the setsRead MoreSystem Software Application Software3773 Words   |  16 PagesIntroduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...P.2 2) Identify Software Categories 1. Definition of System Software†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.P.3-4 2. Definition of Application Software†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.P.5 3. The difference between system software and application software†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..P.6-7 3) Two examples of system software and the benefits 1. Microsoft Windows 7†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦P.8-12 2. Mac OSX†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦P.13-14 4) Two examples of application software and the benefits 1. Excel†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦

The Slave Trade - 1310 Words

Brutalization of the Slave Trade In the 1600s, slavery played a significant role in European history. The negative aspects that made up the dark times in history are, mainly centered on the brutalizing effects of the enslaved people, which can be best explained by the destroyed family bonds, history of the enslaved people erased, and unjust treatment of the slaves. Olaudah Equiano, a former slave and abolitionist, was born in 1745, part of the Igbo tribe. He served as a slave for many years all over the world, until he bought out his freedom in 1767. After that, he pushed for the abolition of the slave trade and civil rights until the end of his life. In Equiano’s life, there were three ways a person became a slave. Either by a tribe†¦show more content†¦They shed no tears as the mothers wept in heartache that they could no longer embrace their beautiful children. Consequently, as soon as the men and women became slaves, their traditions, values, cultures, and identities vanished. Although, before Equiano involuntarily gave his life away, he spoke of such dignity of his people, the Eboe. His brethren thrived harmony, compassion, and loyalty. They were â€Å"a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets†, and never ceased an opportunity to celebrate a triumphed battle, marriage, or blessing of their Creator (Equiano, 34). Their dancing was organized into four groups of people from the village, and individual group would â€Å"represent some interesting scene of real life, such a great achievement, domestic employment, a pathetic story, or some rural sport† (Equiano, 34). For that reason, provided more variety to the dances. In addition, instruments were also used to give the ritual a new liveliness. For example, musical instruments like drums, guitars, and xylophones were greatly played. All of the important and sacred values and trad itions of these people were obliterated when they became slaves. As soon as the stepped onto the boats, they were immediately given a new identity, and told to forget their old one. Soon, over seven million slaves would be taken across world, forced into intense labor until death. Seven million identities would be erased, and leaving behind countless traditions,Show MoreRelatedThe Slave Trade852 Words   |  4 PagesThrough the transportation use of the asientistas, the slave trade was constantly changing and integrated with the whole Atlantic economy. From 1595 to 1773, a total of 648,688 slaves, or an annual average of 3,381 slaves every year for the 178 years of trade. However, as with many economic understandings and studies changes are more important than the totals. Therefore, the changing sources of supply and destinations are of more importance. With Spanish records, the Guinea of Cape Verde and theRead MoreSlave Trade1417 Words   |  6 PagesAfricans who have came to Ame rica were slaves who were purchased through the international slave trade. White colonists viewed Africans as uncivilized and ‘turned to the international slave trade to fill their labor needs.’ The white English settlers knew nothing of any other culture; people were thought to be white or Christian, anything else was ‘uncivilized’. Slavery served for two purposes; a labor system and racial control in a white country. The slave trade was important in building the colonialRead MoreAfrican Slaves And The Slave Trade995 Words   |  4 PagesAtlantic slave trade was at its peak. Many believe that only Europeans benefited from having Africans as slaves, but they are wrong. Africans of different tribes would destroy settlements, capture the villagers, and sell them at the market as they were a baked good at a farmer’s market in today’s society. Europeans and Africans both played a major role in the slave trade and are both to blame for the capturing and selling of African slaves. African’s played a much bigger role in the Atlantic Slave tradeRead MoreA Slave During The Slave Trade977 Words   |  4 Pagesto others, deserve it not for themselves (Chandler).† However, the question must be begged: what is slavery, and how much do people really know about some of the tragic stories that occurred during that time period? Olaudah Equiano was a slave during the slave trade who wrote an autobiography about his experiences with said topic. After being enslaved for ten years, he finally could afford to buy his freedom and become an anti-slavery activist. His text explains his trek across oceans in a ship withRead MoreSlavery And The Slave Trade Essay1313 Words   |  6 Pagesuse of the domestic slave trade because of the need for slaves in the tobacco planting lands. Many landowners and planters looked towards the Chesapeake area to seek for slaves. Many slave owners started looking towards that region because the International Slave Trade had been bloc kaded off. The domestic slave trade began something different; where African Americans were moved to a new location either through being sold or being transferred. Because of the desperate need of slaves in order to earnRead MoreAfrican Slaves And Slave Trade1880 Words   |  8 PagesSlaves and slave trade has been a paramount part of history for a very long time. In the years of the British thirteen colonies in North America, slaves and slave trade was a very consequential part of its development. It even carried on to virtually 200 years of Coalesced States history. The slave trade of the thirteen colonies was a paramount part of the colonies as well as Europe and Africa. In order to supply the thirteen colonies efficiently through trade, Europe developed the method of triangularRead MoreThe Trade Of The Atlantic Slave Trade3341 Words   |  14 Pages The Atlantic Slave Trade took place from the 16th century to the 19th century. Most of the slaves were taken from West Africa, but the trade also affected other parts of the continent. By the end of the trade, it became the biggest human migration to date. Generally, we know a lot about the effects slavery had in the New World, but we have less information on how the slave trade affected African societies. Although there were no scholars which contested the harm the slave trade caused, howeverRead MoreThe Terrible Trade Of The Slave Trade2289 Words   |  10 PagesThe Terrible Trade Screams for relief, cries for comfort, and moans for death all revolved around the slave trade. The slave trade is an event that not only impacted Africa, but the whole world. This essay will explain how cultures were ruined and families were torn apart. The slave trade has influenced history worldwide because it has impacted countries economically, socially, and politically. The Middle Passage received its name because it is in the middle of the Triangular Trade. Legs of the triangularRead MoreThe Terrible Trade Of The Slave Trade2324 Words   |  10 PagesTerrible Trade Screams for relief, cries for comfort, and moans for death all revolved around the slave trade. The slave trade is an event that not only impacted Africa, but the whole world even still today. This essay will explain how cultures were ruined and families were torn apart. The slave trade has influenced history worldwide because it has impacted continents economically, socially, and politically. The Middle Passage received its name because it is in the middle of the Triangular Trade. TheRead MoreThe Politics Of The Slave Trade1703 Words   |  7 PagesPolitics of the Slave Trade: Art Engaging Eighteenth-Century Audiences with the Abolitionist Movement Ella Ottaviano The rise of the abolitionist movement in the late eighteenth century, created a platform for artworks to be used as arguments for the abolition of slavery. Artworks during the Enlightenment employed a variety of visual techniques to emotionally engage their audiences with the politics of the slave trade and to elicit a sympathetic response from the viewer towards African slaves, strengthening

Words of Wisdom free essay sample

Words of Wisdom The Alchemist Words of Wisdom Words can have a significant impact in one’s life; it can serve as the greatest happiness or one’s greatest burden. In the novel The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, words of wisdom act as a comforting force that gives admonition to those in need of it. â€Å"The hand that wrote it all,† illustrates a mysterious force that compels Santiago to follow his dreams and pursue his greatest happiness; to travel without limits. Furthermore, the importance of maintaining balance allows Santiago to take notice of the world and acknowledge all of its omens. The eminence of trusting the heart’s wishes, and having the courage to follow those dreams and act upon it, takes a grand toll as one of the most heartfelt passages within Santiago’s journey. As Santiago makes his way to his Personal Legend, words of wisdom inspires him to follow his dreams, listen to his heart and take notice of all the little things in life to maintain balance in all that he does. We will write a custom essay sample on Words of Wisdom or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Maktub is a simple yet memorable phrase that has contributed to Santiago’s pursuit of his Personal Legend. It is a simple phrase that allows Santiago to understand that everyone is created by the same hand and that there is a universal language that could be understood without the need for words. Maktub evokes a theory that God has a plan for all living things; that everything happens for a specific reason. Often â€Å"we are afraid of losing what we have, whether it‘s our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the histories of the world were written by the same hand† (Coelho 78). It becomes evident that with the presence of God in Santiago’s life, he is comforted with the knowledge that despite the suffering, God will not abandon him. He begins to understand that â€Å"all things are one† (Coelho 46) and somehow, all souls are intertwined and connected in a way that is unimaginable or that cannot be explained. A prominent example was when Santiago fell in love with Fatima, the woman of the desert. â€Å"There [was] only that moment and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world† (Coelho 95). It is his sense of intuition, the ability to understand another without the need for words, which leads Santiago to recognize that he was destined to be with Fatima. The hand that wrote it all†, allows Santiago to see that there is a mysterious force guiding him along his journey; however, it is him that makes the decisions that determines the outcome. To acknowledge and appreciate the world’s wonders without failing to remember our roots, is a given gift that that one must obtain to fully grasp the full meaning of happiness. As Santiago embarks on his journey, he came upon an abrupt encounter with a mysterious man that called himself the King of Sale m. As this man tells Santiago about the fable of the â€Å"oil and the spoon†, Santiago discovers that the moral of the story has much in relation to himself. It carries a message that â€Å"the secret to happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon† (Coelho 34). The depth of these words carry an inevitable message that although admiring the beauty of the world and recognizing God’s presence within it is truly essential, Santiago must not allow his origin escape from his memory. He becomes aware of the fact that he must not dwell too much on the past and that â€Å"he [cannot] be hasty, nor impatient. [That] if he [pushes] forward impulsively, he [could] fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path† (Coelho 91). The advice of the seer reinforces this idea, for he believes that, â€Å"the secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve on it. And if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better† (Coelho 104). Along with this lesson, Santiago acknowledges the fact that the present is something to be treasured and to be viewed precious for it carries life’s inner beauty. To continue on his journey, Santiago maintains balance in all that he does, whether it is to pursue his dream without forgetting who he is, or to appreciate one’s present. Listening to one’s heart becomes one of life’s greatest lessons towards the end of the novel. It is a task that is proven to be hard to accomplish due to the fact that the perpetual enemy that goes against the idea of listening to one’s heart is rationalization. Santiago experiences this agitation as he exclaims that â€Å"[his] heart is a traitor† (Coelho 130) for the fact that although he wants to continue his Personal Legend, a part of himself is â€Å"afraid that, in pursuing [his] dream, [he] might lose everything [he has] won† (Coelho 130). This part of Santiago is his logic; the part of himself where he superficially creates reasons for himself and eventually making it so that â€Å"there is only one thing that makes a dream impossible: the fear of failure† (Coelho 143). Santiago fails to realize that the first glimpse of what he desires is usually the right one, and that the later ones are usually polluted with reason. The alchemist advises him to â€Å"tell [his] heart that the fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and the eternity† (Coelho 132). Santiago obtains the knowledge that no happiness can be achieved without having to face challenges in one life. He grows to understand that although it is difficult to listen to the heart, without the mind the interfering, the heart â€Å"knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there† (Coelho 129). The alchemist explains the fact that the heart is a gift itself from God for it teaches one how to love and be loved, therefore it understands one’s innermost thoughts best. With Santiago’s development as a character, he soon learns to trust his heart, to understand it, and recognize what it desires. As Santiago’s journey progresses, he understands that to follow one’s dream, maintain balance in one’s life, and to follow one’s heart are all words that he must live by to truly acquire the most desired thing by man; happiness. With maktub, Santiago grasps the fact that although God’s presence is always accompanying him and that God will never fail to guide him in his time of need, it is himself that makes the important decisions that will carry him to places that he has never dreamed of. Santiago also begins to understand the significance of maintaining balance, as it allows oneself to recognize the little things in life that makes life interesting and to never lose sight of one’s origins. Overall, listening to one’s heart makes a definite mark on Santiago’s life as it teaches him to trust his heart despite whatever his mind may say, and to understand that sometimes it is the risks in life that can make one the most happiest. Words can truly have an impact on one’s life, as it carries messages that could be held close to the heart. Work Cited Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.

The Truth About Thanksgiving Essays - Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Truth About Thanksgiving The truth behind the tradition is surprising. Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims seem to go together, but the truth is, the Pilgrims never held an autumnal Thanksgiving feast. However the Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621, after their first harvest, and it is this feast, which people often refer to as The First Thanksgiving. This feast was never repeated, though, so it can't be called the beginning of a tradition, nor was it termed by the colonists or Pilgrims a Thanksgiving Feast. In fact, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting, and would have been held any time that they felt an extra day of thanks was called for. Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model that we think of for our own Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims were not the first people to have a celebration of this kind. Many other civilizations held festivals to celebrate the harvest. The ancient Greeks and Romans prayed to the gods and goddesses of the harvest, and also originated the idea of the cornucopia--the h orn of plenty. The Jews celebrate the holiday Sukkot, which honors the awards of the harvest, and the Chinese enjoy the celebration of the Harvest Moon. Even native New Yorkers commemorate the harvest long before Thanksgiving arrives. Pumpkins, apples and corn are abundant in the open-air markets of the city beginning in late September. The autumn of 1621 yielded a plentiful harvest and the Pilgrims, gathered together with the Massasoit Indians to reap the awards of hard work. Celebrating Thanksgiving is like celebrating an even that includes the dead of over 11,000 Wampanoag Indians died due to illnesses that they contracted from white settlers. The truth of the matter is, when the Pilgrims arrived, they found an abandoned Wampanoag village and moved right in. In 1618, a massive epidemic of an unknown disease left by English explorers swept across Wampanoag country and decimated many of the villages. This epidemic caused the death of ten to thirty percent of the total population an d all but a few of the 2,000 people of the village of Patuxet. When the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, they landed at Patuxet with no idea of what had occurred. At this point, there were only about 2,000 members left in the Wampanoag tribe, down from 12,000 in 1600. Despite the incredible losses to his people, Wampanoag leader Massasoit and 90 of his men sat down for a harvest celebration offered by the white men. For three days the Wampanoag and Pilgrims feasted on deer, wild turkey, fish, beans, squash, corn and other foods native to North America. Although the celebration was good-natured, this event truly signifies the beginning of a drastic decline of native culture and Thanksgiving would be more fittingly observed as a day of mourning rather than a celebration. In the years that followed, skirmishes occurred and more Native Americans were killed. In 1637, English soldiers massacred 700 Pequot men, women and children as an example of the English way of war, yet we still celebrate Th anksgiving as a joyful event. So, as we sit down for our Thanksgiving dinner, let us consider the words of Frank James in his 1970 speech: Today is a time of celebrating for you... but it is not a time of celebrating for me. It is with a heavy heart that I look back upon what happened to my people. When the Pilgrims arrived, we, the Wampanoags, welcomed them with open arms, little knowing that it was the beginning of the end. American History