Butterfly

Butterfly There is a man in my neighborhood that plays the bagpipes. He sits under his tree and allows his music to rise above the drone of the coming and going traffic. The song is Amazing Grace—the only song he knows. I am a musician; I have played the viola for nine years. But music can still amaze me. A brass tube with holes in it, costing $11.50, taught me that. A penny whistle. It could transport me to a place that was entirely my own. The first time I placed my fingers over those empty holes, my dog tilted his head in surprise at the resulting sound. Days later, determined to produce a pleasing tone, I wandered into my room while punching notes out on the way. Setting up my chair in front of the mirror, I sat down and watched my clumsy fingers try to learn a new dance. My mind wandered and I could hear my friend’s mildly accusing voice. â€Å"So why aren’t you going to the football game?† I hit a high, shrill note. â€Å"I dunno,† I heard myself say, â€Å"I’m too busy, I guess.† The second time the note sounded clear and deep. Here in my room, I did know. An unexpected calm trickled over me like a sticky-sweet syrup, slowly pulling at the worries that had cluttered my mind. I knew why I wanted to be here and not in a crowd of faces. My grandmother’s condominium overlooks the Ohio River. So it was surprising to see, nine stories above the earth, a burning orange butterfly pass by the window. It fluttered along lazily, as if not aware it was climbing above buildings created to place holes in the sky. The girl in the mirror smiled. My stress floated away; I felt content for the first time that day. After a little practice, the pitches began to march in harmony. Melodies poured from my little penny whistle. My fingers cautiously hammered out the notes that formed Amazing Grace and I was lifted above the commotion of the week. My friends may think I am a lost cause, but it is they who will never understand how wonderful the view is from up here.

Islamic Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islamic Architecture - Essay Example Islamic architects borrowed much from the fallen Persian Empire’s architecture. Much later after seeing fusions with many traditions, when Islam came into the subcontinent, the already prevailing Indian architecture had to adapt itself with this new religion (Metcalf). Arches, mosques and domes began to appear on the scene along with the Hindu mandirs. Muslim rulers introduced these Islamic traditions and also borrowed elements from Hindu architecture to further decorate their own buildings. Islamic architecture was represented by a distinctive regional panache. This was the time when Islamic architecture was heavily under the influence of Persian, Turkish and Jerkasi traditions followed by Fatmids, Salejuqs, Atabeqids, Ayyubids, Mamluks, and Ottomans. The influences upon the architecture were not the choice of Muslim architects and artist; instead, they were Muslim rulers who decided to incorporate foreign traditional elements prevailing in the environment, to enhance their o wn architecture. The most significant examples of Islamic architecture facing syncretism are seen during the Mughal period. Buildings that were constructed during Mughal era were inspired by the Indian architecture with slight touches from Persian architecture. The city of Fatehpur Sikri shows big examples of fusion of Hindu and Islamic architecture encouraged by Akbar. Taj Mahal in Agra depicts religious syncretism and is famous for its beautiful architecture enhanced by white marbles, sophisticated carvings and minarets. These styles that were encouraged during the medieval period were neither purely Islamic nor Indian; instead, these were a fusion of the two religions and their traditions. Going back into history, Ottomans inculcated Byzantine architectural features into Islamic architecture when they took the city from Byzantines and transformed the cathedral into a mosque.

CHANEL IN CHINA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

CHANEL IN CHINA - Research Paper Example As economy in China is rapidly growing, the Chinese who can afford luxury also increases. The country is considered as the third largest luxury market in the world, after the United States and Japan. This is the prime reason multinational companies of luxury goods extend presence of their products in the country. China is one of the most economically developed countries in the world. It has gained its momentum since the Chinese embraced economic transformation in the late 1970s. China has opened its market to foreign investors which attracted many multinational corporations (MNCs) to come and do business. The MNCs then become the engine of the country in its rapid economic growth that helped increase its participation in the international market. Due to global competition, many MNCs established themselves in the Chinese market mainly to seek for cost-reduction and new market. China became a favorite destination of foreign investors or MNCs because of fast investment return. The rapid economic growth opens more market opportunities but still provides cheaper but high quality resources and huge supply of inexpensive labor. This entices the idea of foreign investors to enter in the emerging market. ... One of the luxury companies that established a branch in China is the Chanel. Chanel with Mandarin name Xiang Nai Er, which means little more than fragrant is an international luxury goods company with over 200 boutiques worldwide. It is founded in 1909 by Gabrielle â€Å"Coco† Chanel, a famous haute couture which revolutionized women’s fashion and introduced timeless elegance and fashion. The mother branch is in Neuilly sur Seine, France. The company is one of the world’s preeminent fashions of the present genre. It offers a broad range of luxury products such as ready-to-wear clothes, make-up, fragrances, skincare, leather goods, fine jewelry and accessories. This paper will try to identify Chanel’s development of global strategic alliances, inter-company collaboration, and positioning for greater global competitiveness. Though MNCs such as Chanel have several strengths which include strong brand image, high quality products, and excellent management, th ey still need strategies to be able to compete in the market due to increasing number of luxury brands competing. Discussion Various business strategies are employed by companies especially MNCs in order to maintain presence, establish presence in new markets, and compete in their market segment against same products. In the case of luxury brand Chanel, its advantage may be its global presence for more than a century now, but this does not mean challenges are few. First off, Chanel like any other MNC that is new to China, needed strategic global alliance that will harmonize the market entry as well as reduce all possible risks that a foreign investor will go through. 1. Development of global strategic alliances Knoke (2009)