1a. Quote, Maxine's mom and a FOB, 194
The girl's said they'd never date a FOB. My mother took one home from the laundry, and I saw him looking our photographs. "This one," he said, picking up my sister's picture.
2a. Maxine's parents are trying to marry off their children, and they would normally marry off the eldest. Even if the younger child was more popular, they wouldn't marry her off unless they are desperate. Sometimes people would marry off their children is when they are in need of money and they would marry their kids to a rich person.
3a. I thought that it was funny that they had put FOB's in here. Usually when I hear the term FOB, people are talking about Filipino's, and I'm Filipino =P. Also I thought that it was weird how Maxine's parents are trying to marry their kid to someone without letting them test the waters first. I personally would feel so embarrassed or ashamed that I had to have my Mother find me a husband.
4a. Question: If you were in an arranged marriage and you have never met the man before, would you go through with it? Why or why not?
1b. Quote, Maxine and her mom, 203
"When I go to college, it won't matter if I'm not charming. And it doesn't matter if a person is ugly; she can still do schoolwork."
"I didn't say you were ugly."
"You say that all the time."
"That's what we're supposed to say. That's what Chinese say. We like to say the opposite."
2b. Maxine's mother has been saying a bunch of opposite things to Maxine, which in turn makes Maxine think that her mother doesn't really like her. Usually American's say exactly what's on their minds, even if it's extremely rude. Maxine's mother is acting more Chinese then American.
3b. In my opinion, Maxine's mother seems to be afraid to be more American, it may not seem that way in the book, but to me (some how) it does. I think that if she acts American, she might loose her Chinese. That may be a weird way of explaining it, but that's basically the way I see it.
4b. What would you say to your mother if she kept putting you down?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Post 3
The quotes that you choose to analyze and write about must pertain to one of the following questions:
1. Why have the characters in your book come to America?
2. What was the journey like coming to America?
3. What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?
4. What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival?
6. How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America? 7. How do Americans treat the characters? (Specifically those born/raised in US)
1a. Quote, Moon Orchid and Brave Orchid, page 144
"It's against the law to have two wives in this country," said Moon Orchid. "I read that in the newspaper."
"But it's probably against the law in Singapore too. Yet our brother has two, and his sons have two each. The law doesn't matter."
2a. Moon Orchid came because of her sister, and not her husband. Who had married another women while in the US, while he was still married to Moon Orchid. Her arrival was never planned with him, so it is going to be a big surprise to MO's (Moon Orchid) husband. BO (Brave Orchid) had said that MO was wishy-washy, but it really isn't fair to MO that MO's husband didn't even send for her. It must be hard on MO to just go up to her husband and demand him back, while kicking out his second wife. BO is trying to help, but it seems like she is playing a game more then her sister's life.
3a. MO seems like the person to just let things go and forgive, then to take action. It doesn't seem like she's brave enough, or even cares that much. I think that she should take charge, not just for her, but for her first daughter as well. I believe that MO should demand her husband back, or get his arrested for having 2 wives. It isn't fair at all that she was stuck in China while he had the time of his life in the US. Even if the second wife didn't know that he had a wife already, I think that she should get in some type of trouble too.
4a. Question: Would you stand by and let your husband or boy friend go off with another girl, while your stranded by yourself? What would you do?
1b. Quote, MO's husband, 153
He looked at MO. Again the rude American eyes. "You go live with your daughter. I'll mail you the money I've always sent you. I could get arrested if the Americans knew about you. I'm living like an American." He talked like a child born here.
2b. MO's husband rejects MO because he came to a new place. If he had stayed in China then they would be together, and he could have told MO that he wouldn't come back for her. It's kind of unfair to MO's husband that she turns up unexpectedly but it's his fault that she's coming for him. He should have been honest with his new wife also, especially if he is an 'American'.
3b. MO's husband basically cuts all physical ties with MO, but the only reason was because he came to America. I think that he's 'become a new person' in his eyes only. He looks the same(maybe a bit older), talks the same, and basically the only thing that's changed about him is his attitude. If he's going to be a jerk, then MO doesn't need a man like that in her life. In my opinion that is, but I feel there may be a point to this that I'm not seeing.
4b. Question; How would you end ties with someone that you have lost all feelings for?
1. Why have the characters in your book come to America?
2. What was the journey like coming to America?
3. What was the life/role of the characters in their home country?
4. What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival?
6. How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America? 7. How do Americans treat the characters? (Specifically those born/raised in US)
1a. Quote, Moon Orchid and Brave Orchid, page 144
"It's against the law to have two wives in this country," said Moon Orchid. "I read that in the newspaper."
"But it's probably against the law in Singapore too. Yet our brother has two, and his sons have two each. The law doesn't matter."
2a. Moon Orchid came because of her sister, and not her husband. Who had married another women while in the US, while he was still married to Moon Orchid. Her arrival was never planned with him, so it is going to be a big surprise to MO's (Moon Orchid) husband. BO (Brave Orchid) had said that MO was wishy-washy, but it really isn't fair to MO that MO's husband didn't even send for her. It must be hard on MO to just go up to her husband and demand him back, while kicking out his second wife. BO is trying to help, but it seems like she is playing a game more then her sister's life.
3a. MO seems like the person to just let things go and forgive, then to take action. It doesn't seem like she's brave enough, or even cares that much. I think that she should take charge, not just for her, but for her first daughter as well. I believe that MO should demand her husband back, or get his arrested for having 2 wives. It isn't fair at all that she was stuck in China while he had the time of his life in the US. Even if the second wife didn't know that he had a wife already, I think that she should get in some type of trouble too.
4a. Question: Would you stand by and let your husband or boy friend go off with another girl, while your stranded by yourself? What would you do?
1b. Quote, MO's husband, 153
He looked at MO. Again the rude American eyes. "You go live with your daughter. I'll mail you the money I've always sent you. I could get arrested if the Americans knew about you. I'm living like an American." He talked like a child born here.
2b. MO's husband rejects MO because he came to a new place. If he had stayed in China then they would be together, and he could have told MO that he wouldn't come back for her. It's kind of unfair to MO's husband that she turns up unexpectedly but it's his fault that she's coming for him. He should have been honest with his new wife also, especially if he is an 'American'.
3b. MO's husband basically cuts all physical ties with MO, but the only reason was because he came to America. I think that he's 'become a new person' in his eyes only. He looks the same(maybe a bit older), talks the same, and basically the only thing that's changed about him is his attitude. If he's going to be a jerk, then MO doesn't need a man like that in her life. In my opinion that is, but I feel there may be a point to this that I'm not seeing.
4b. Question; How would you end ties with someone that you have lost all feelings for?
Friday, March 5, 2010
post 2
The quotes that you choose to analyze and write about must pertain to one of the following questions:
1. Why have the characters in your book come to America?
2. What was the journey like coming to America?
5. What hardships do the characters endure as they make a new life?
6. How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America? 7. How do Americans treat the characters? (Specifically those born/raised in US)
1a. Quote; Maxine's mother and her teachers, 64
Older people were expected to be smarter; they are closer to the gods. She did not want to overhear students or teachers say, "She must be exceedingly stupid, doing no better than anyone else when she is a generation older. She's so dumb, she has to study day and night."
2a. Chinese people expected more of the elderly and they also based a lot of things on their gender and age. It would've been hard on mostly women, especially how her mother had to fake her age to be able to learn. Women in that region had to deal with a lot, and they still get judged. Unless they were a warrior, but even then they needed to live up to a certain expectation.
3a. I think that people shouldn't judge one another by their age and gender. Everyone is different, some in big ways, others in smaller. If they compare themselves to the requirements then they all have huge things wrong with them. One rule will always contradict another in some way. Maxine's mother was a brave women, then went to extremes to achieve her goal, but I admire that about her. If more people were like that, then the environment and economy would be better.
4a. Question: If your dreams were slightly out of reach, then would you give up? Or go the distance to achieve it?
1b. Maxine, 104
The silk dresses she gave me are tiny. You would not think the same person wore them. This mother can carry a hundred pounds of Texas rice up- and down stairs. She could work at the laundry from 6:30 a.m. until midnight, shifting a baby from an ironing table to a shelf between packages, to the display window, where the ghosts tapped on the glass.
2b. Chinese people didn't have to work so hard, because they usually worked in the medicine field. If they are to make a living in America, then they would have to work twice as hard for about minimum wage. It compares her mother's old life style in China, to the one she has now.
3b. I think that the mother should stop working if she's already 80 years old. If a normal American were that age, then they would've gone into retirement already. I also think that she should let her daughter make her own life, and not let her mooch off of her anymore, even if it's a little bit.
4b. What would you do if your life changed from a delicate one, to a hard labor one?
1. Why have the characters in your book come to America?
2. What was the journey like coming to America?
5. What hardships do the characters endure as they make a new life?
6. How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America? 7. How do Americans treat the characters? (Specifically those born/raised in US)
1a. Quote; Maxine's mother and her teachers, 64
Older people were expected to be smarter; they are closer to the gods. She did not want to overhear students or teachers say, "She must be exceedingly stupid, doing no better than anyone else when she is a generation older. She's so dumb, she has to study day and night."
2a. Chinese people expected more of the elderly and they also based a lot of things on their gender and age. It would've been hard on mostly women, especially how her mother had to fake her age to be able to learn. Women in that region had to deal with a lot, and they still get judged. Unless they were a warrior, but even then they needed to live up to a certain expectation.
3a. I think that people shouldn't judge one another by their age and gender. Everyone is different, some in big ways, others in smaller. If they compare themselves to the requirements then they all have huge things wrong with them. One rule will always contradict another in some way. Maxine's mother was a brave women, then went to extremes to achieve her goal, but I admire that about her. If more people were like that, then the environment and economy would be better.
4a. Question: If your dreams were slightly out of reach, then would you give up? Or go the distance to achieve it?
1b. Maxine, 104
The silk dresses she gave me are tiny. You would not think the same person wore them. This mother can carry a hundred pounds of Texas rice up- and down stairs. She could work at the laundry from 6:30 a.m. until midnight, shifting a baby from an ironing table to a shelf between packages, to the display window, where the ghosts tapped on the glass.
2b. Chinese people didn't have to work so hard, because they usually worked in the medicine field. If they are to make a living in America, then they would have to work twice as hard for about minimum wage. It compares her mother's old life style in China, to the one she has now.
3b. I think that the mother should stop working if she's already 80 years old. If a normal American were that age, then they would've gone into retirement already. I also think that she should let her daughter make her own life, and not let her mooch off of her anymore, even if it's a little bit.
4b. What would you do if your life changed from a delicate one, to a hard labor one?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Post 1
Quote; Maxine, 46
"I'm not a bad girl," I would scream. "I'm not a bad girl. I'm not a bad girl." I might as well have said, "I'm not a girl."
2. Maxine's life when she was younger in her home country must have been hard, especially since she is a girl. What she writes tells us that it was sexist against girls, and treated them harshly. When she got totally fed up with it, I guess she would throw a tantrum and her mother would scold her. It also shows that her parents were rough on her, and didn't really treat her right while she was growing up.
3. I would understand if I got treated like trash because of how I'm born then I would hate it, and wish I were a boy too. Sometimes there were some situations where being a girl sucked, and I wished that I wasn't a girl. I feel that if she grew up in a different environment then she might have had a different life. I also think that she was treated extremely poorly for what she can't help. I feel empathy for her, and I would never thrust that upon my own children if I had a choice.
4. Question: If your family hated you because of your gender, then would you want to run away or something?
Quote: Maxine's boss at an art supply store, page 48
"Order more of that nigger yellow, willya?" the boss told me. "Bright, isn't it? Nigger yellow."
2. This shows how in just one job, her boss is pretty racist. Even if it was just a color, then he shouldn't be using it just out of leisure. It also shows that if that happened to her before, and her boss ignored her, then it is most likely going to happen again. The boss should really take her feelings into consideration and not be so mean.
3.I personally wouldn't want to work there if my boss was like that. I also think that she needs to toughen up and stand up for herself. If she doesn't then everyone will walk all over her. It also would help her family is she did toughen up and get a better job that'll pay more to support them.
4. Question: If your boss was a jerk and you could possibly get a better job, then would you stay just in case?
"I'm not a bad girl," I would scream. "I'm not a bad girl. I'm not a bad girl." I might as well have said, "I'm not a girl."
2. Maxine's life when she was younger in her home country must have been hard, especially since she is a girl. What she writes tells us that it was sexist against girls, and treated them harshly. When she got totally fed up with it, I guess she would throw a tantrum and her mother would scold her. It also shows that her parents were rough on her, and didn't really treat her right while she was growing up.
3. I would understand if I got treated like trash because of how I'm born then I would hate it, and wish I were a boy too. Sometimes there were some situations where being a girl sucked, and I wished that I wasn't a girl. I feel that if she grew up in a different environment then she might have had a different life. I also think that she was treated extremely poorly for what she can't help. I feel empathy for her, and I would never thrust that upon my own children if I had a choice.
4. Question: If your family hated you because of your gender, then would you want to run away or something?
Quote: Maxine's boss at an art supply store, page 48
"Order more of that nigger yellow, willya?" the boss told me. "Bright, isn't it? Nigger yellow."
2. This shows how in just one job, her boss is pretty racist. Even if it was just a color, then he shouldn't be using it just out of leisure. It also shows that if that happened to her before, and her boss ignored her, then it is most likely going to happen again. The boss should really take her feelings into consideration and not be so mean.
3.I personally wouldn't want to work there if my boss was like that. I also think that she needs to toughen up and stand up for herself. If she doesn't then everyone will walk all over her. It also would help her family is she did toughen up and get a better job that'll pay more to support them.
4. Question: If your boss was a jerk and you could possibly get a better job, then would you stay just in case?
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