(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.
Friday, January 28, 2011
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.
In the Gutter
(pg. 13) "My father grew up poor in Ahwaz, Iran. His parents died at an early age."
This quote shows that his father didn't have parents, and I think that that's important because a lot of people from different countries have their parents die when they were young. I think that it would be so hard to have my parents die when I'm young because I know that I wouldn't be responsible enough to take care of myself, and my brothers. This could be related to Children of the River because Sundara was only 12 when she left her country and her parents. When she left Cambodia, that was the last time she saw and heard from her parents. She doesn't know if they're dead or alive. Firoozeh's father and Sundara have that they lost they're parents at an early age in common. Also, this quote could relate to Children of the River because Soka and Naro used to live in the poor area. Naro would ride his bike to his work to was dishes every day.
(pg. 15) "The big day finally arrived and my father was ready to strike it rich."
I think that this quote is important because it shows that this family doesn't work hard, and they think they're just going to hit the jackpot on a game show. This is different from Children of the River because Sundara's family works hard and works in Mr. Bonner's fields everyday. This could relate to American life because a lot of Americans think that they can just win on a lottery ticket, or gamble and make money instead of actually working.
This quote shows that his father didn't have parents, and I think that that's important because a lot of people from different countries have their parents die when they were young. I think that it would be so hard to have my parents die when I'm young because I know that I wouldn't be responsible enough to take care of myself, and my brothers. This could be related to Children of the River because Sundara was only 12 when she left her country and her parents. When she left Cambodia, that was the last time she saw and heard from her parents. She doesn't know if they're dead or alive. Firoozeh's father and Sundara have that they lost they're parents at an early age in common. Also, this quote could relate to Children of the River because Soka and Naro used to live in the poor area. Naro would ride his bike to his work to was dishes every day.
(pg. 15) "The big day finally arrived and my father was ready to strike it rich."
I think that this quote is important because it shows that this family doesn't work hard, and they think they're just going to hit the jackpot on a game show. This is different from Children of the River because Sundara's family works hard and works in Mr. Bonner's fields everyday. This could relate to American life because a lot of Americans think that they can just win on a lottery ticket, or gamble and make money instead of actually working.
Hot dogs and Wild Geese
(pg. 8) Asking my father to ask the waitress the definition of "sloppy Joe" or "Tater Tots" was no problem.
In my opinion this quote is important because it shows how strange American food is to them. I think that it would be hard to go to a new place and find something that you'd like to eat, especially with all the crazy names we have for our food. Also, it would be even more difficult if you didn't speak that language. This could connect to Children of the River because Sundara's grandmother doesn't like American food, she only eats at her home when she can have a good meal. I can connect this to my own life because when I go to different restaurants and they have weird names for their food, I never know what to order and I speak English. So I can only imagine how hard it would be to try and order food if I didn't speak the language.
(pg. 11) I always encouraged my mother to learn English, but her talents lay elsewhere.
I feel that this quote is important because it shows that the mother doesn't want to learn English, even though it is the language when she lives. I am confused by this because I feel that she should want to learn English, because I know that if I was in a new place I would want to learn the language. I think that if she doesn't learn the language it would be hard for her to live there. This is different from Children of the River because Soka wants to learn English, and she is trying to.
In my opinion this quote is important because it shows how strange American food is to them. I think that it would be hard to go to a new place and find something that you'd like to eat, especially with all the crazy names we have for our food. Also, it would be even more difficult if you didn't speak that language. This could connect to Children of the River because Sundara's grandmother doesn't like American food, she only eats at her home when she can have a good meal. I can connect this to my own life because when I go to different restaurants and they have weird names for their food, I never know what to order and I speak English. So I can only imagine how hard it would be to try and order food if I didn't speak the language.
(pg. 11) I always encouraged my mother to learn English, but her talents lay elsewhere.
I feel that this quote is important because it shows that the mother doesn't want to learn English, even though it is the language when she lives. I am confused by this because I feel that she should want to learn English, because I know that if I was in a new place I would want to learn the language. I think that if she doesn't learn the language it would be hard for her to live there. This is different from Children of the River because Soka wants to learn English, and she is trying to.
Leffingwell Elementary School
(pg. 4) I stood up straight and proudly recited all that I knew: "White, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green."
I think that this quote is important because Firoozeh came to America only knowing how to say seven colors in English, and even though it is only seven colors that she knows how to say, she still knows more English than her mother. I think it would be very hard to come to a different country and only know how to say a few words. This could connect to the novel Children of the River because Firoozeh is proud to recite all the colors she knows to the teacher, unlike Sundara, who was embarrassed when the teacher read her poem out loud to the class. I could connect this to my own life because when I was in kindergarden I was always proud to show everyone all that I knew, even if it was the littlest thing.
(pg. 5) Bachelor No. 3 was my father. Like the other suitors, he had never spoken to my mother, but one of his cousins know someone who knew my mother's sister, so that was enough.
I think that this quote is important because it shows how in their culture the women had no power over deciding who they married. This can be connected to Children of the River because in Sundara's culture she cannot choose who she marries either. Her parents find the husband that they feel is right for her. This is very different from my life, and American culture because our parents do not pick who we marry. Our parents might disagree, and have their own opinions, but we make the final decision. I am confused about why this works because I don't think that two people who just met, can just fall in love. I think that they should be able to find their own husbands and wifes.
I think that this quote is important because Firoozeh came to America only knowing how to say seven colors in English, and even though it is only seven colors that she knows how to say, she still knows more English than her mother. I think it would be very hard to come to a different country and only know how to say a few words. This could connect to the novel Children of the River because Firoozeh is proud to recite all the colors she knows to the teacher, unlike Sundara, who was embarrassed when the teacher read her poem out loud to the class. I could connect this to my own life because when I was in kindergarden I was always proud to show everyone all that I knew, even if it was the littlest thing.
(pg. 5) Bachelor No. 3 was my father. Like the other suitors, he had never spoken to my mother, but one of his cousins know someone who knew my mother's sister, so that was enough.
I think that this quote is important because it shows how in their culture the women had no power over deciding who they married. This can be connected to Children of the River because in Sundara's culture she cannot choose who she marries either. Her parents find the husband that they feel is right for her. This is very different from my life, and American culture because our parents do not pick who we marry. Our parents might disagree, and have their own opinions, but we make the final decision. I am confused about why this works because I don't think that two people who just met, can just fall in love. I think that they should be able to find their own husbands and wifes.
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