Isidora Sánchez

Reaction paper on “Koalas hugs trees to beat the heat”

By Nicole Hamamé and Isidora Sanchéz

Concerning the article “Koalas hug trees to beat the heat” published by Discover Magazine on November 7, 2016, refers to the fact that koalas hugs trees for another reason apart from their instinct to not fall out of the tree. It was discovered by scientists that koalas, on the hottest days, huddle on trees to cool off by sweating. They search for the coolest trees to sleep on and rest against them while they do an exchange of temperature to keep themselves with a low heat.

Firstly, we think that the method koalas use to keep their heat low, is an interesting one. Because they live the majority of their lives on trees, and because they are slow animals, they have to use a different system to regulate their temperature on hot days. It amaze us how this certain animals create their own system to adapt to the environment where they live and through this method they learn to survive. We are pretty sure that if the climate changes, they would also adapt to it. We learned that koalas are the last existing species of their family tree and it is just because they were able to build a system that protected them from the heat. Also their subspecies variates from their hair color to their height and size depending on the place where they live.

Secondly, we think it is important to take care of the nature in this type of places. Forest and areas with a high amount of trees is where koalas live the majority of their lives, and without them koalas would become extinct. They use the trees to sleep and rest in them, eat their leaves, and actually, to survive. It is essential to take care of trees, so, at the same time, we take care of this amazing specie that needs them just as us. Furthermore, tree felling should be stopped in order to prevent koala’s extinction. A lot of species had been extinct by men’s fault and we do nothing to stop this. This situation should not happen because every kind of animal is important to the planet and to keep a normal life cycle. We must be more conscious and take responsibility of our planet and realize the way we are treating it is affecting us all, including the animals.

In brief, the planet is our big house and we must manage to keep it safe and in good condition so we do not damage it more than it is nowadays. Several species lives in here and also us. Keeping this planet safe, we also keep safe koalas and its particular system that they use to maintain a normal body temperature.

Have you ever heard someone said “I miss my grandma’s cooking” or “today i’ll go to my grandma’s house, i am going to eat so much”? well, right now i am going to tell you about a special person and her special food, my beautiful grandmother, Rebeca.

Rebeca Oyarce, daughter of Aladino and a woman with the same name as her, was born on December 25, 1941.

She’s known between her friends as a very outgoing and happy person, but it wasn’t always like that. Her early days were marked by a illness that compromised her childhood, she wasn’t able to go to school and enjoy that beautiful part of her life.

At the age of 13, while her older sister were studying to become hair stylist, she was still recovering from her illness while helping her mother with the housework. She learned to cook, sew and clean but couldn’t leave the house still.

When she turned 18, she met a older man named Carlos Sánchez and fell in love quickly. They started dating with her parents permission but not without first meeting him. He was a gentle but serious man, a hard worker that gain her heart with his own charms. They got married in november of 1960, on a small wedding where their family and friends were invited.

After their wedding, they settle in Rancagua because of Carlos work, where they bought a small house.

Their first son was born on 1960, exactly the same day of her birthday, as she always says: “what a great birthday gift God gave me”. They named him Juan Carlos.

Realizing the money Carlos made wasn’t enough, she made a big plan. At first she wasn’t the most social person in the world, but the need was bigger, she started to sell things to the people of the neighborhood. It started with small things like eggs, butter, sugar, etc. but with the time she noticed a lot of people liked her cooking, so she made some empanadas, pajaritos and pastel de choclo. They sold quicker than any of the other things.

In 1960, her daughter was born, they named her Ximena. She was a special little girl who got the character of his dad. She was always angry and didn’t liked to share any of her toys with her brother. But Rebeca wasn’t going to let a little girl take over her life, she raised her well and made her change her attitude.

3 years later, Patricio was born, he was the opposite of Ximena, gentle, nice and respectful.

The house was getting smaller with the arrival of every kid, so they decided to make an extension of the house where they put a small kitchen, Rebeca was the happiest woman of the world.

Everything went well for the family, but the country was starting to change. Carlos and Rebeca had never liked politics, but they supported Allende. They saw how their country and everything they built was tumbling down. They saw the soldiers in the street, their friends getting killed, the lack of food and the fear in their children’s faces. But Rebeca was strong and gave strength to her kids and husband.

The worst part was when Carlos, as a worker of CODELCO, had to stay weeks at work. She didn’t even know if he was alive.

Luckily, he came back, skinny and sad, but he came back, and they could maintain the faith in their country.

After all of this, the happiness came back to their lives. They were able to raised their children as they wanted to.

And a last surprise was ready for them: their youngest son, Victor.

Juanca, Xime, Pato and Victor graduated from school and started working.

Everyone of her children got married and had babies, and that’s where I enter.

As a grandmother, she has always been a woman I admire. Even when she wasn’t able to enjoy her early days, she learned that is never too late to live life. She’s a happy and social woman that has love for everyone. She doesn’t care who you are, she is always going to have a soft bed and a warm plate of food for you.

Max Contreras

427b Fernando Fernandez

Concepción, 4030000

September 27th

Lissette Aguirre

C.E.O.

Seguritos SA.

584 Roberto Martinez Avenue

Concepción, 4030000

Dear Ms. Lissette

I am writing this letter to you because I want to complaint about the bad service you and your company are providing to our condominium. Lately we have had three burglars that had broken-in, one on the early morning September 7th were the criminals take a bunch of jewelry and money, that occasion the alarm did not sound and nobody was alerted. The other went on September 10th, and the criminals also stole the possessions of the family. And in only one case the people from your company had showed up, the case of September 14th and they did late, an hour late, even the cops arrived early, and according to your protocol the first to arrive in the scene are the people from your company.

I am asking for you to review your reaction times, it is not possible that the people that should came into the scene does not show up, or when they do, they do it one hour late, also we, the hole condominium are asking for an alarm check on every one of the houses.

I am looking forward for your reply in the shortest period possible, if you do not reply or present a solution we will pursue legal council or will take this case to the SERNAC

Sincerely yours

Max Contreras