(pg. 75) "During our Thanksgiving meal, my father gives thanks for living in a free country where he can vote."
This quote shows how thankful Firoozeh's family is to be in America. This is similar to Children of the River because Sundara's family is also very grateful to be in America. On the other hand, they are different because Firoozeh's family chose to come to America, while Firoozeh's family was forced.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Waterloo
(pg. 68) "My father is a proud man. He was the first member of his family to study in America, the first to win a Fulbright scholarship, and, years later, the first to settle permanently in America."
I think that this quote is important because it shows that people from other countries are proud to be from America, and it also shows how important America is to them. I could connect this to Children of the River because Sundara's family is proud to be in America, the first phrase they learned to speak in English was "We are very grateful to be here. " I could connect this to my own life because when my friend came to America, she was very proud and grateful to be here. I think that we Americans take our home for granted because many would love to live where we do.
(pg. 72) "My aunt dragged me out of the pool, and doing her best imitation of General Patton in a bad mood, announced that I was hopeless."
I think that this quote can relate to Children of the River because Soka would always bring Sundara down. I can connect this to my life because there are always those people that try to get you down and make you feel like you're nothing.
I think that this quote is important because it shows that people from other countries are proud to be from America, and it also shows how important America is to them. I could connect this to Children of the River because Sundara's family is proud to be in America, the first phrase they learned to speak in English was "We are very grateful to be here. " I could connect this to my own life because when my friend came to America, she was very proud and grateful to be here. I think that we Americans take our home for granted because many would love to live where we do.
(pg. 72) "My aunt dragged me out of the pool, and doing her best imitation of General Patton in a bad mood, announced that I was hopeless."
I think that this quote can relate to Children of the River because Soka would always bring Sundara down. I can connect this to my life because there are always those people that try to get you down and make you feel like you're nothing.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The "F" Word
(pg. 62) "How could our parents ever imagined that someday we would end up in a country where monosyllabic names reign supreme, a land where "William" is shortened to "Bill," where "Susan" becomes "Sue," and "Richard" somehow evolves into "Dick"?"
This quote shows how different American life is from Firoozeh's life. In her country she has names that mean "Beloved," and "Giver". But when she comes to America we have names that change into shorter names. I can connect this to my own life because sometimes I don't know how we get these names, and sometimes I find English difficult to understand, so I can only imagine how hard it is for Firoozeh and her family. I can connect this to Children of the River because Sundara took a long time to get used to American culture, and when she first got there she was shocked about how we lived.
(pg. 62) "When we moved to America, all the kids called him "Farthead". My brother Farshid ("He Who Enlightens") became "Fartshit."
This quote shows how disrespectful and immature people can be.
This quote shows how different American life is from Firoozeh's life. In her country she has names that mean "Beloved," and "Giver". But when she comes to America we have names that change into shorter names. I can connect this to my own life because sometimes I don't know how we get these names, and sometimes I find English difficult to understand, so I can only imagine how hard it is for Firoozeh and her family. I can connect this to Children of the River because Sundara took a long time to get used to American culture, and when she first got there she was shocked about how we lived.
(pg. 62) "When we moved to America, all the kids called him "Farthead". My brother Farshid ("He Who Enlightens") became "Fartshit."
This quote shows how disrespectful and immature people can be.
A Dozen Key Chains
(pg.44) "List in hand, my father and I headed straight for the clearance section in the camping department."
I can relate this to my life because no matter what we're doing my mom is always trying to save money. She is always searching through the clearance isles and looking for sales. Also, this quote shows how much America is a vacation to them. In the book Children of the River Sundara's family wouldn't spend $500 on a camp. They spend their money on things they need, and only things they need.
(pg. 47) "Every morning I showed up at the macrame station ready to make another key chain."
I can relate this to my life because when I first moved to South Portland I went to Rec. Camp. I didn't know anyone so every day that I went there I went to the art room and made bracelets. This is very different from Children of the River because Sundara only focuses on her education and working. Her aunt would never send her to a summer camp. I think that this also shows how much of a vacation America is for Firoozeh's family, and how different it is from Sundara's.
I can relate this to my life because no matter what we're doing my mom is always trying to save money. She is always searching through the clearance isles and looking for sales. Also, this quote shows how much America is a vacation to them. In the book Children of the River Sundara's family wouldn't spend $500 on a camp. They spend their money on things they need, and only things they need.
(pg. 47) "Every morning I showed up at the macrame station ready to make another key chain."
I can relate this to my life because when I first moved to South Portland I went to Rec. Camp. I didn't know anyone so every day that I went there I went to the art room and made bracelets. This is very different from Children of the River because Sundara only focuses on her education and working. Her aunt would never send her to a summer camp. I think that this also shows how much of a vacation America is for Firoozeh's family, and how different it is from Sundara's.
Friday, January 28, 2011
With a Little Help from My Friends
(pg. 31) "I was lucky to have come to America years before the political upheaval in Iran."
This quote is important because it shows how they think they were lucky to leave their home country before the political upheave, and Sundara's family is lucky to leave their home country before they were killed. I think that this quote shows how lucky Firoozeh's family is, compared to Sundara's. I could connect this to my own life because one of my friends left her country before a war started. I think that we're very lucky to live in America and have the lives that we have today.
(pg. 36) "These Americans felt that they knew all about Iran and its people, and they had no questions, just opinions."
This quote shows how fast people can get opinions on people, and how judgmental people can be. This quote can be related to Children of the River because people had their opinions on Sundara because they thought that she got Jonathan to quit football. Every day in high school people are judged for their looks, or how they talk just like Firoozeh is being judged for being Iran.
This quote is important because it shows how they think they were lucky to leave their home country before the political upheave, and Sundara's family is lucky to leave their home country before they were killed. I think that this quote shows how lucky Firoozeh's family is, compared to Sundara's. I could connect this to my own life because one of my friends left her country before a war started. I think that we're very lucky to live in America and have the lives that we have today.
(pg. 36) "These Americans felt that they knew all about Iran and its people, and they had no questions, just opinions."
This quote shows how fast people can get opinions on people, and how judgmental people can be. This quote can be related to Children of the River because people had their opinions on Sundara because they thought that she got Jonathan to quit football. Every day in high school people are judged for their looks, or how they talk just like Firoozeh is being judged for being Iran.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Swoosh-Swoosh
(pg. 24) "In my family, relatives' stays were marked by seasons, not nights."
I think that this quote is important because it shows how different their culture is from American culture. In American culture if a relative visits they will stay for a couple of days, they don't stay for seasons. In their culture that is normal to them. This is very different from Children of the River because it shows how Firoozeh's family is at America on a vacation, unlike Sundara's family who was forced to come to America. Also, Sundara's family doesn't know where her parents are. They don't know weither they're alive or dead, unlike Firoozeh's family. I think that it would be crazy to have a relative come over and have them stay at your house for a matter of seasons.
(pg. 30) "A few more hours of TV viewing and we placed an order for the Body Shaper."
I like this quote because it shows how important looks are to Americans. Firoozeh's family didn't care about appearance until they came to America. This is similar to Children of the River because Sundara wants to save up and buy new clothes so she can fit in. I can connect this to my life because my mom wants to loose weight, and she is always buying new gadgets, and starting new diets to help her try and loose weight like Firoozeh's uncle is.
I think that this quote is important because it shows how different their culture is from American culture. In American culture if a relative visits they will stay for a couple of days, they don't stay for seasons. In their culture that is normal to them. This is very different from Children of the River because it shows how Firoozeh's family is at America on a vacation, unlike Sundara's family who was forced to come to America. Also, Sundara's family doesn't know where her parents are. They don't know weither they're alive or dead, unlike Firoozeh's family. I think that it would be crazy to have a relative come over and have them stay at your house for a matter of seasons.
(pg. 30) "A few more hours of TV viewing and we placed an order for the Body Shaper."
I like this quote because it shows how important looks are to Americans. Firoozeh's family didn't care about appearance until they came to America. This is similar to Children of the River because Sundara wants to save up and buy new clothes so she can fit in. I can connect this to my life because my mom wants to loose weight, and she is always buying new gadgets, and starting new diets to help her try and loose weight like Firoozeh's uncle is.
Save Me, Mickey
(pg. 18) "I had already been to Disneyland fifteen times and was, frankly, getting a little sick of the place."
I think this quote shows that this family is accepting American culture, and they like it. Also, it shows that the father doesn't know how to save his money, or he has a lot of it. This is different from Children of the River because Sundara's family doesn't like American culture, and Soka does not let her do anything that is involved with it. Soka doesn't let Sundara go to football games, so she would defiantly not be taking her to Disneyland fifteen times. Also, Sundara's family is very tight with their money. They save their money, and they spend it on necessities. On the other hand, Firoozeh's family has been to Disneyland fifteen already, and they continue to go. Firoozeh's family doesn't save their money like Sundara's. I think that it is dumb that they blow their money on Disneyland fifteen times. I think that they should learn responsibility and save their money.
(pg. 19) " Our home town, Abadan, was aboutas safe a place one could hope for. We knew all the neighbors, everyone looked out for everyone else's kids, and there was basically no crime other than petty theft."
I think that this is important because it shows how much safer it was for children back in their home. This could connect to the novel Children of the River because Sundara's family knows all the Khmer familys in their neighborhood and they all talk to each other and they have dinners with them. This is different from American culture though because usually you don't know everyone in your neighborhood, and you don't look out for each other's kids. I could connect this to my life because when I was younger I went to a day care. That seems like it is the same thing as Firoozeh's neighborhood back in Abadan, because all of the adults watched the kids.
I think this quote shows that this family is accepting American culture, and they like it. Also, it shows that the father doesn't know how to save his money, or he has a lot of it. This is different from Children of the River because Sundara's family doesn't like American culture, and Soka does not let her do anything that is involved with it. Soka doesn't let Sundara go to football games, so she would defiantly not be taking her to Disneyland fifteen times. Also, Sundara's family is very tight with their money. They save their money, and they spend it on necessities. On the other hand, Firoozeh's family has been to Disneyland fifteen already, and they continue to go. Firoozeh's family doesn't save their money like Sundara's. I think that it is dumb that they blow their money on Disneyland fifteen times. I think that they should learn responsibility and save their money.
(pg. 19) " Our home town, Abadan, was aboutas safe a place one could hope for. We knew all the neighbors, everyone looked out for everyone else's kids, and there was basically no crime other than petty theft."
I think that this is important because it shows how much safer it was for children back in their home. This could connect to the novel Children of the River because Sundara's family knows all the Khmer familys in their neighborhood and they all talk to each other and they have dinners with them. This is different from American culture though because usually you don't know everyone in your neighborhood, and you don't look out for each other's kids. I could connect this to my life because when I was younger I went to a day care. That seems like it is the same thing as Firoozeh's neighborhood back in Abadan, because all of the adults watched the kids.
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