1. Average. I rate him average because he made both a good decision and a bad one. Let’s start with the good decision. The author, as the leader of the group of explores, represents the group when they encountered the natives. He did the right thing of speaking for the group instead of sending someone else to communicate with the natives. On the other hand, the author should have listened to the group’s decision when deciding if they want to move to the native’s village: the natives might kill them as human scarify. He risked the whole group’s lives by stubbornly following his decision. That is why I rated him average.
2. I might have armed myself when I first encounter the Indians. For sure, I wouldn’t behave as the author did.
3. He’s a man of independence and exploration—he bravely followed his decisions by making friends with the natives and trusting them, despite his crew members didn’t want him to do so; as well, he didn’t show that he was afraid when he encountered the natives, even though they met the group of explores with weapons.
4. I think he means that the white men were getting fat after they settled down in the New World, because there was no more shortage of food.
5. Similarity: The natives are all kind and friendly to the Europeans.
Difference: In “Before They Got Thick”, the natives have thought about killing them (the white), in addition, the native did not show any trace of kindness and friendliness at the beginning when the Europeans got off the ship.
6. The whites settled in the New World, and the natives treated the white as if they were brothers.
7. Fear. People would not know the strangers motivation of entering your world, and they don’t know how to react to the new comers.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Inheritance
1. What is an heirloom and how does Reema Keswani’s presentation connect to the topic of family heirlooms?
Heirloom, according to the online dictionary dictionary.com, is “a family possession handed down from generation to generation. (www.dictionary.com) In Reema’s presentation, she connects to family heirloom by mentioning how the wealthy pass down their jewelry in India.
2. List 10 or more ideas for family heirlooms in your family
In my family, we only have one family heirloom, because it was my great grandfather who first set foot in Taiwan. The heirloom is the Chinese sword that my great grandparents owned. My great grandmother used to practice martial arts using swords, and it’s passed down to my grandmother and in the future, it will be passed down to my dad and then me.
3. After reading “The Inheritance of Tools”, post your thoughts on how effectively the author conveys the importance of the hammer as a family heirloom in his life.
The author first tells the reader how and why he/she got the hammer; later on the author describes the history of the hammer. Staring with his grandfather, the author talked about how his grandfather enlarged his house using the hammer. Then, the author talked how his father used the hammer and how the hammer created a huge impact on him as it helped him changed his way of viewing the world as well as his father’s teachings.
Heirloom, according to the online dictionary dictionary.com, is “a family possession handed down from generation to generation. (www.dictionary.com) In Reema’s presentation, she connects to family heirloom by mentioning how the wealthy pass down their jewelry in India.
2. List 10 or more ideas for family heirlooms in your family
In my family, we only have one family heirloom, because it was my great grandfather who first set foot in Taiwan. The heirloom is the Chinese sword that my great grandparents owned. My great grandmother used to practice martial arts using swords, and it’s passed down to my grandmother and in the future, it will be passed down to my dad and then me.
3. After reading “The Inheritance of Tools”, post your thoughts on how effectively the author conveys the importance of the hammer as a family heirloom in his life.
The author first tells the reader how and why he/she got the hammer; later on the author describes the history of the hammer. Staring with his grandfather, the author talked about how his grandfather enlarged his house using the hammer. Then, the author talked how his father used the hammer and how the hammer created a huge impact on him as it helped him changed his way of viewing the world as well as his father’s teachings.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
After Reading of La Relacion
1. Rate Cabeza de Vaca as a leader on a scale of 1 to 5, one being poor and five being very capable. Explain your rating.
Average. I rate him average because he made both a good decision and a bad one. Let’s start with the good decision. The author, as the leader of the group of explores, represents the group when they encountered the natives. He did the right thing of speaking for the group instead of sending someone else to communicate with the natives. On the other hand, the author should have listened to the group’s decision when deciding if they want to move to the native’s village: the natives might kill them as human scarify. He risked the whole group’s lives by stubbornly following his decision. That is why I rated him average.
2. Put yourself in the Spanish explorers' or the Lipan Apaches' place. You are meeting a group of people you know nothing about. Would you have done anything differently than either the Spanish explores or the Lipan Apaches did?
I might have armed myself when I first encounter the Indians. For sure, I wouldn’t behave as the author or the natives did.
3. What does Cabeza de Vaca's account reveal about his character and the qualities that enable him to survive?
He’s a man of independence and exploration—he bravely followed his decisions by making friends with the natives and trusting them, despite his crew members didn’t want him to do so; as well, he didn’t show that he was afraid when he encountered the natives, even though they met the group of explores with weapons.
4. What does Percy Bigmouth mean when he says the white men "began to get thick"?
I think he means that the white men were getting fat after they settled down in the New World, because there was no more shortage of food.
5. Compare Cabeza de Vaca and his companions' experience with that of the settlers in "Before They Got Thick." In what ways are the experiences the same and in what ways are they different?
Similarity: The natives are all kind and friendly to the Europeans.
Difference: In “Before They Got Thick”, the natives have thought about killing them (the white), in addition, the native did not show any trace of kindness and friendliness at the beginning when the Europeans got off the ship.
6. The newcomers at the end of Percy Bigmouth's tale are "getting along very well." Extend the story. What do you think happened in the next year? in five years? in ten years?
The whites settled in the New World, and the natives treated the white as if they were brothers.
7. The Lipan Apaches had no idea who the newcomers were. They had no prior experience on which to base their interactions, or ways of relating with this new group. What if strangers, perhaps from another planet, suddenly arrived in your area. How would people react?
Fear. People would not know the strangers motivation of entering your world, and they don’t know how to react to the new comers.
Average. I rate him average because he made both a good decision and a bad one. Let’s start with the good decision. The author, as the leader of the group of explores, represents the group when they encountered the natives. He did the right thing of speaking for the group instead of sending someone else to communicate with the natives. On the other hand, the author should have listened to the group’s decision when deciding if they want to move to the native’s village: the natives might kill them as human scarify. He risked the whole group’s lives by stubbornly following his decision. That is why I rated him average.
2. Put yourself in the Spanish explorers' or the Lipan Apaches' place. You are meeting a group of people you know nothing about. Would you have done anything differently than either the Spanish explores or the Lipan Apaches did?
I might have armed myself when I first encounter the Indians. For sure, I wouldn’t behave as the author or the natives did.
3. What does Cabeza de Vaca's account reveal about his character and the qualities that enable him to survive?
He’s a man of independence and exploration—he bravely followed his decisions by making friends with the natives and trusting them, despite his crew members didn’t want him to do so; as well, he didn’t show that he was afraid when he encountered the natives, even though they met the group of explores with weapons.
4. What does Percy Bigmouth mean when he says the white men "began to get thick"?
I think he means that the white men were getting fat after they settled down in the New World, because there was no more shortage of food.
5. Compare Cabeza de Vaca and his companions' experience with that of the settlers in "Before They Got Thick." In what ways are the experiences the same and in what ways are they different?
Similarity: The natives are all kind and friendly to the Europeans.
Difference: In “Before They Got Thick”, the natives have thought about killing them (the white), in addition, the native did not show any trace of kindness and friendliness at the beginning when the Europeans got off the ship.
6. The newcomers at the end of Percy Bigmouth's tale are "getting along very well." Extend the story. What do you think happened in the next year? in five years? in ten years?
The whites settled in the New World, and the natives treated the white as if they were brothers.
7. The Lipan Apaches had no idea who the newcomers were. They had no prior experience on which to base their interactions, or ways of relating with this new group. What if strangers, perhaps from another planet, suddenly arrived in your area. How would people react?
Fear. People would not know the strangers motivation of entering your world, and they don’t know how to react to the new comers.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Respond to the learning style analysis
Explain Test Results:
My test result shows my learning style as the following:
Visual: 12 out of 20
Social: 12 out of 20
Physical: 9 out of 20
Aural: 11 out of 20
Verbal: 3 out of 20;
Solitary: 10 out of 20
Logical: 10 out of 20
As my result shows, I learn best when I can see the things I'm learning, or I studey with a group. My weakness of learning is verbal, I am not good at memorizing vocabulary.
Explain if you agree with this result:
Yes, I agree with this result. I think this test is really accurate because based on other similar test I did before, the results were all about the same: They say I learn best when I can see the material or with a group of people, and the weakness of my learning is vocabulary; I always have trouble learning the vocabs.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Only Goodness
Identify 3 key excerpts/quotations which stand out for some reason: Read each and share your thoughts.
“For years they had been compared to other Bengali children, told about gold medals brought back from science fairs, colleges that offered full scholarships.” (P129)
This quote reminds me of education around the world. We have a myth that the more gold we win from competitions, the better. It seems like we are competing for that piece of gold instead for our own behalf and fun. I still remember our basketball coach Mr. Greenstone used to tell us to “enjoy the game” and “have some fun”. He gave us the belief that winning or losing a game is not important, but to enjoy the game is. I believe that same thing applies to our lives. We should “enjoy” our life, not trying to “win” everything.
“But Rahul did not behave as if he were being either abandoned or liberated. He pocketed the money their father counted out and gave him as they parted, and he turned back toward his dormitory before Sudha and her parents had pulled away.” (P130)
Rahul’s plain expression gives me the feeling that he doesn’t really care about his family. If he really cares about his family and love his family, he won’t “behave as if he were being either abandoned or liberated.” He will at least show some feelings. This implies me that Rahul is tired of his life at home, and he already lost his purpose motive for life because to him, his parents already plan out his life for him, and all he has to do is to follow the plan.
“‘That’s the problem with this country,’ her mother said. ‘Too many freedoms, too much having fun. When we were young, life wasn’t always about fun.’” (P143)
This quotation stands out because this is what I agree with. I think today’s society, in both Taiwan and USA, is giving too many freedoms to people. People believe that they have the right to do whatever they want, because the law gives them the right and freedom to do so. They hold the opinion that they can do anything they want as they please, because the law granted them the right to do so. And by doing whatever they want, the people created lots of problems in society. Therefore, I think that the amount of freedom in society should be limited or reduced.
Plan 5-10 open-ended questions with follow-up questions to ask your classmates in the large circle (all of these questions must require at least a 20 word response from your classmates)
-Do you think that it is Sudha's fault that Rahul begins to drink? Why or why not?
-As Sudha's mother said in page 143, "That's the problem with this country. Too many freedoms, too much having fun." Do you agree with this quotation? Explain your reasoning.
-Do you think Rahul will quit drinking in the end, why or why not?
Comment on what you believe to be the message(s) of the story.
I think there are 2 messages in this story.
The author writes this story to express her concern about teenagers' drinking problem; she hopes readers take Rahul's example as a warning and as a bad example, she hopes that people can stop giving teenagers alcohols.
Another message the author delivers through the story is her hope for a change in our society. She thinks teenagers are given too many freedoms, and they are using their freedoms to do whatever they want, which is getting out of control.
By writing this story, the author hopes to help change teenagers' drinking problem and the freedom they receive.
“For years they had been compared to other Bengali children, told about gold medals brought back from science fairs, colleges that offered full scholarships.” (P129)
This quote reminds me of education around the world. We have a myth that the more gold we win from competitions, the better. It seems like we are competing for that piece of gold instead for our own behalf and fun. I still remember our basketball coach Mr. Greenstone used to tell us to “enjoy the game” and “have some fun”. He gave us the belief that winning or losing a game is not important, but to enjoy the game is. I believe that same thing applies to our lives. We should “enjoy” our life, not trying to “win” everything.
“But Rahul did not behave as if he were being either abandoned or liberated. He pocketed the money their father counted out and gave him as they parted, and he turned back toward his dormitory before Sudha and her parents had pulled away.” (P130)
Rahul’s plain expression gives me the feeling that he doesn’t really care about his family. If he really cares about his family and love his family, he won’t “behave as if he were being either abandoned or liberated.” He will at least show some feelings. This implies me that Rahul is tired of his life at home, and he already lost his purpose motive for life because to him, his parents already plan out his life for him, and all he has to do is to follow the plan.
“‘That’s the problem with this country,’ her mother said. ‘Too many freedoms, too much having fun. When we were young, life wasn’t always about fun.’” (P143)
This quotation stands out because this is what I agree with. I think today’s society, in both Taiwan and USA, is giving too many freedoms to people. People believe that they have the right to do whatever they want, because the law gives them the right and freedom to do so. They hold the opinion that they can do anything they want as they please, because the law granted them the right to do so. And by doing whatever they want, the people created lots of problems in society. Therefore, I think that the amount of freedom in society should be limited or reduced.
Plan 5-10 open-ended questions with follow-up questions to ask your classmates in the large circle (all of these questions must require at least a 20 word response from your classmates)
-Do you think that it is Sudha's fault that Rahul begins to drink? Why or why not?
-As Sudha's mother said in page 143, "That's the problem with this country. Too many freedoms, too much having fun." Do you agree with this quotation? Explain your reasoning.
-Do you think Rahul will quit drinking in the end, why or why not?
Comment on what you believe to be the message(s) of the story.
I think there are 2 messages in this story.
The author writes this story to express her concern about teenagers' drinking problem; she hopes readers take Rahul's example as a warning and as a bad example, she hopes that people can stop giving teenagers alcohols.
Another message the author delivers through the story is her hope for a change in our society. She thinks teenagers are given too many freedoms, and they are using their freedoms to do whatever they want, which is getting out of control.
By writing this story, the author hopes to help change teenagers' drinking problem and the freedom they receive.
Answering Questions Assigned
16. The stories in Unaccustomed Earth offer a moving, highly original perspective on the clash between family and cultural traditions and the search for individual identity. How does the sense of displacement felt by the older, immigrant generation affect their American-born children? What accommodations do the children make to their parents’ way of life? In trying to fit in with their American friends, do they sacrifice their connections to their heritage? In what ways are the challenges they face more complex than those of their parents?
The immigrants and the elders are not willing to give up their own identity and culture. They are not willing to embrace new (American) culture, and they are not willing to let their children to do so. The children think that their parents are old-schooled and they are not willing to talk to their parents about what they new things they encounter at school; as well, children view traditional Indian culture their parents brought with them as old-fashioned and strange, thus they are not willing to go back to India. By trying to fit in with their American friends, the Indian kids usually cover-up what they did to prevent their parents from knowing. Unlike their parents, the Indian children has to face the discrimination at school, the culture difference between school and home, and learn not to forget their own culture at the same time.
14. What does the reunion in Rome reveal about the ties that bind Hema and Kaushik despite their many years of separation? What does it illustrate about their attempts to escape from the past and their parents’ way of life? What do they come to realize about themselves and the plans they have made as the intimacy between them escalates?
The reunion in Rome reveals that both Hema and Kaushik are not able to forget each other and their friendship, despite many years of separation. Another thing the reunion reveals is that both Hema and Kaushik are not able to find a suitable partner in life. By doing what they do in Rome, they are trying a new style of life, a life their parents forbid them to have. As they stay in Rome and meet each other, they realize that their plans in life are not really what they want, like the way their parents planned their life.
The immigrants and the elders are not willing to give up their own identity and culture. They are not willing to embrace new (American) culture, and they are not willing to let their children to do so. The children think that their parents are old-schooled and they are not willing to talk to their parents about what they new things they encounter at school; as well, children view traditional Indian culture their parents brought with them as old-fashioned and strange, thus they are not willing to go back to India. By trying to fit in with their American friends, the Indian kids usually cover-up what they did to prevent their parents from knowing. Unlike their parents, the Indian children has to face the discrimination at school, the culture difference between school and home, and learn not to forget their own culture at the same time.
14. What does the reunion in Rome reveal about the ties that bind Hema and Kaushik despite their many years of separation? What does it illustrate about their attempts to escape from the past and their parents’ way of life? What do they come to realize about themselves and the plans they have made as the intimacy between them escalates?
The reunion in Rome reveals that both Hema and Kaushik are not able to forget each other and their friendship, despite many years of separation. Another thing the reunion reveals is that both Hema and Kaushik are not able to find a suitable partner in life. By doing what they do in Rome, they are trying a new style of life, a life their parents forbid them to have. As they stay in Rome and meet each other, they realize that their plans in life are not really what they want, like the way their parents planned their life.
Friday, August 15, 2008
My Vivid Summer Memory
Toward the end of the summer, I went to play a 3 on 3 basketball tournment in ChiLong with Vincent and Yusuke. It is the first time I play in a tournment outside of school, so I was very nervous. There were 64 teams in our division and were divided into groups of four. The opponents in our group were as good as we thought, and we defeated them easily. Whoever got 13 points first wins the game, or else, whoever has the higher score wins the match.
We were the only winner of our group, so we advanced to the quarter finals. We swepted the opponent with a score of 13-5, and we expected to win the semi-final. However, things did not go the way we expected: we were playing against a really good team, the players in that team are all from the varsity team of a local school. We were swept 13-5 or 13-6, and weren't able to make to the top four finals. Nevertheless, we were one of the top eight, and it was satisfying enough, for someone who played in tournments like this for the first time.
We were the only winner of our group, so we advanced to the quarter finals. We swepted the opponent with a score of 13-5, and we expected to win the semi-final. However, things did not go the way we expected: we were playing against a really good team, the players in that team are all from the varsity team of a local school. We were swept 13-5 or 13-6, and weren't able to make to the top four finals. Nevertheless, we were one of the top eight, and it was satisfying enough, for someone who played in tournments like this for the first time.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Reacting to one of the Lahiri quoted segments
"Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of generations, in the same worn-out soil. My children have had other birthplaces, and, so far as their fortunes may be within my control, shall strike their roots into unaccustomed earth."
-Nathaniel Hawthorne,
"The Custom-House"
My interpretation of this quote is that people will eventually get tired of their own living environment, and they will want to be in a new environment and settle down to explore and “plant” their roots into the new soil. I have been living in Tien Mu, Taipei for at least 10 years, I witnessed the rise and fall of Tien Mu area, and life here is getting boring for me. I always wanted to move out of Taipei and get my own living space and life.
I really like to travel, and I am really jealous of the life Kaushik has: always traveling around, experiencing new cultures as he works in different places. I would like to have a life like that in the future.
I still remember the first time I traveled with my family to Japan than to US for a month. During the month, we stayed in hotels, visited attractions, and enjoy different kind of Japanese cuisines. Then, we went to US to attend my cousin’s wedding and travel to Las Vegas, visiting the Grand Canyon on the way. We slept in the hotels at night and I took lots of photo during our visit to attractions, and I really enjoy this kind of life.Upon reading the quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it reminds me of my past traveling experience, and it helps me to plan my future.
I really like to travel, and I am really jealous of the life Kaushik has: always traveling around, experiencing new cultures as he works in different places. I would like to have a life like that in the future.
I still remember the first time I traveled with my family to Japan than to US for a month. During the month, we stayed in hotels, visited attractions, and enjoy different kind of Japanese cuisines. Then, we went to US to attend my cousin’s wedding and travel to Las Vegas, visiting the Grand Canyon on the way. We slept in the hotels at night and I took lots of photo during our visit to attractions, and I really enjoy this kind of life.Upon reading the quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it reminds me of my past traveling experience, and it helps me to plan my future.
My Summer Memory
One of the things i did during summer was playing BB war. BB wars are like actual gun fights, where players shoot each other with their own BB guns. It may seems dangerous to some people, but the game is actually not, as long as players wear their protection gears.
This is the first year I play this game. I still remember how nervous I was during the first game. We were divided into two teams, and we had to find our own hiding spot after the whistle. At first, no one from either team opened fire. So we just waited until someone from the other team lost patience and head for us...
This is the first year I play this game. I still remember how nervous I was during the first game. We were divided into two teams, and we had to find our own hiding spot after the whistle. At first, no one from either team opened fire. So we just waited until someone from the other team lost patience and head for us...
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