Neighborhood Accomplishments
Ramya Auroprem
San Jose’s Ramya Auroprem advanced to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. An eighth grader from Joaquin Miller Middle School, she is fascinated by linguistics and is eager to learn new languages.
The results of the finals rounds can be seen here:
http://public.spellingbee.com/public/results/2009/round_results/speller/19
The Longest Half Mile
One our Rainbow West neighbors, Richard Lukon, has published the thrilling experiences of his world-wide adventures in a book titled The Longest Half Mile. He will also appear in an interview about his memoir which will be aired near the end of the year. Visit the author’s webpage at http://rp-author.com/Lukon/ or check out his blogspot at http://longesthalfmile.blogspot.com/ .
Below is a recent review of his book.
The Longest Half Mile Book Review
Synopsis: At the age of 18, wearing a clean pair of jeans with $25 in my pocket, I climbed aboard a German freighter leaving San Francisco on a three year journey around the world. The trip began with me hanging off scaffolding over the Pacific, painting the ship’s hull.
In “The Land Down Under”, I roamed the pubs of King’s Cross by night while confronting madmen by day in Australia’s biggest insane asylum.
Arriving in Europe, I began a quest to transform myself into a Frenchman. While working the fields during wine harvest, waiting tables, clerking and cutting lumber, I took up studies at the University of Dijon. I crossed paths with gypsies, con artists, and drug dealers. I also found friends and lovers who showed me new ways of seeing the world. —Richard Lukon
