"The Hands of My Father" is a interesting poem. I found the similarity between the father and son which they both have "peace". The father work at the farm and dislike noise while the son are deaf. Seem like the father and son communicate with their hand through silence.
The author compare the difference of the father's and son's silence. As it quotes, "To him a sense...My silence was famine and disease, forces of nature he could not root out, or control. Or cure." This explained that the father type of silence is by the uses of senses as he is capable of hear things but have preference chosing if he want or does not want silence. The son type of silence as most people consider as a disease which he is profoundly deaf. He is not able to choose to have silence as his father and there is nothing that the son can do to have noise if he happen to like noise.
The poem seem to have negative tone as the father regret for not given the time to communicate with his son referring from the last stanza.
The whole meaning of the poem is that just because there is a communication barrier between the father and son they will still love each other and have the form of connection. Remember, many ways of how to communicate with ones another.
I felt the same way in this poem with my family even if I can talk to my family because how I portray toward my family is different than how I portray myself in the deaf community. I am fortunate to have some of them know some ASL but it was not enough. One of my older sister took ASL class because she really want to support my sister and me. I have a young sister who is still learning, for this I always love to have her with me. My father know little ASL but does not seem to take the time to learn it that is similar to the poem. I felt like my father kind of regret it and to him it seem like it too late but it not. I will have to ask my father one day.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
#9: Rules of the Game
Warning: It is long but I hope you enjoy reading it anyway.
In the first sentence in the story, I did not understand what did the author mean the art of invisible strength then it explained that it is a strategy for winning argument related with chess game. I’m not sure about this one.
Waverly’s mother seems to be very discipline to her child since she told Waverly to “Bite back your tongue”. I felt this phrase is very powerful and the tones in the phrase show anger or frustration. Parents have different ways to discipline their own child. Seem like her mother probably practice authoritarian or permissive or both. As the narrator had stated, “My mother imparted her daily truths so she could help my older brothers and me rise above our circumstances.”
When Waverly said, “I didn’t think we were poor. My bowl was always full…” For this, to me it seem like her mother is conservative. I wonder what roasted watermelon seeds (Roasted Watermelon) taste like. I never try this before except in raw.
Sanddabs? (Sanddabs) I never heard of it before. I think I probably have seen one in the Aquarium in South Africa. I do not really like Aquarium but that is the only ways that people can save some living organism from the ocean. Waverly related the sanddabs with her mother’s story of how the girl got crashed by the cab look flat like the sanddabs. This is really heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. Would this consider traumatic since the author is scare to look at the sanddabs?
Tourists seem to be referring to American who went in to the Chinese restaurant but never went to Hong Kong. I am little confused with this sentence. Now I understand why we have the Name Story Project since the narrator got her name after the street where she lived. She must have be the immigrant coming from China and had to change her name to American name as her family tends to called her Meimei.
“Chinese torture” must be offensive terms to insult Chinese people. I believe “Chinese torture” must have meant for Chinese immigrant as most American do not want them in California. The Congress was able to pass the Exclusion Act of 1882 to get rid of Chinese immigrants. Unfortunately the Chinese immigrants are stuck in California. This story appears to be around mid 1800s when there is California Gold Rush back then.
By the time, Santa asked Waverly how old she was, it was interesting how she said that her age in America and China are different. In America she is seven year old but in China she is eight year old. What is the different between America and China calendar? I know I am the year of the horse since I born in 1990.
Waverly know how to select the right gift base on the size of the box, how it sound when the box is shook, and by testing its weight base on her observation. As a result, she received twelve-pack of Life Savers.
Back to time period of the story, now I think it really take place during World War II during the 1930s of The Great Depression. The narrator had stated that her family living in poverty without being aware of it. I said this which may be possible since her brother, Winston have the replica of a World War II submarine.
After Waverly’s family got back home from celebrating Christmas, Waverly’s mother told Vincent to get rid of the Chess game due to may not accept gift that probably cost too much or would not accept any American gift? “My brothers had deaf ears” explained that his brother is stubborn and no, that does not mean he is deaf.
Waverly is clever of how she was able to find a way to play chess with her brother by giving him Life Savers in exchange to play game with him. While Waverly is learning how to play chess with her brother she kept asking so many questions that she inquire to know such as she asked, “Why aren’t there any women and children?” I never thought of child who will ask this type of question for playing chess. I did not even think of this myself. Maybe this had impacted Waverly from the several events that occur in its society. Her mother warned that it important to know the rules of the foreign country otherwise ones may get in trouble.
Playing chess is not my things since I do not understand how to win the game or how the teams get checkmate. I will be willing to learn how to play chess if someone can teach me. I know that chess use lots of strategies such like the military use strategies during war.
Waverly was smart at her age to be able to find all her “why” questions in the Chinatown library. She was able to comprehend why she should not questions why especially when play chess game. She was able to work her way up to being a better chess player. Like, she had met Lau Po, who has taught her more about chess. I find it strange that she never play chess with any girl/women. Maybe in her time, girl/women think chess is only for boy/men.
When Waverly played with Lau Po, she had lost the game most of the time so she even ran out of her Life Saver. I just find how interesting Waverly used Life Saver to play chess game. This remind me of when playing game especially online and you only have three tries to be able complete/win the game. In addition in the game have different levels of difficulty. Anyway, instead of using Life Saver, “she added new secrets” and Lau Po gave her different names that I found its have similar meaning: “The Double Attack from the East and West Shores. Throwing Stones on the Drowning Man. The Sudden Meeting of the Clan. The Surprise from the Sleeping Guard. The Humble Servant Who Kills the King. Sand in the Eyes of Advancing Forces. A Double Killing Without Blood.” All of those names mean undefeatable. This is how I look at it.
When a man suggested that she go play in the local tournament, she was afraid of going forward if she should get what she want because of her mother speaking of American rules in the past. Her mother said, “Is shame you fall down nobody push you.” Now she realized that she can go only if she want and her mother knew Waverly want to go. Her mother was very supportive which she even give Waverly her chang for good luck.
To explain how Waverly beat the fifteen-years-old boy in playing chess, the author translate of how they play chess into a story by using nature object such as wind and sand. The author also used personification of the nature object.
By the time, Waverly wins many championship for playing chess, she was fortunate to not doing the chores, instead her brothers will do the chores. Waverly’s mother has interesting perspective of how Waverly worked so hard to win chess tournament while Vincent did a little. As Waverly mother had put it, “Is new American rules…Meimei play, squeeze all her brains out for win chess. You play, worth squeeze towel.” Does it sound harsh? Vincent probably is crestfallen or dispirited. What do you think? What is American Rules?
In awhile when Waverly was playing chess, there are many things that distracted her especially her mother. Eventually, she got annoyed by her mother because she felt embarrassed. I am sure some teens experienced this situation when they accomplish something that their parents seem to make it their own. I totally understand how she feel when her mother showoff about her playing chess because she is well-known. I have been there before. Recently, mother kept telling people that I went to Europe for Cultural Exchange Program (CEP), I went to South Africa recently during the summer and how I get there, and that I am the Valedictorian of the Class. I understand that my mother is proud of what I have been doing but when she do it too much, it no fun. I will have to smile to people every time they congratulated me and sometime I have to pretend I know what they are talking about since I am deaf and they are hearing. Sometime I would rather to tell the people myself than other people to say it for me. Does that make sense?
People who are ashamed of their own parent(s) are considered rude, instead those people should accept the fact that their parents want to support them and to guide them. That is hard especially because ones may feel it will reveal their flaws while the people perceive them to be flawless.
Waverly might also felt that her mother is stealing her talent because at the end of the story her mother has potential to conquer her in chess. Waverly had left one piece that had shown that her mother was right as she quotes, “Better to lose less, see if you really need.” Her mother had found rules of the game to win for chess. This is one reason why it is important to listen to others even if you are intelligence. To listen is to learn. One problem…how will you know if it’s the truth? No matter how many times Waverly have been challenge, she will always find a way. I think the point of the story is to not limit yourself of what you cannot do, instead find other solutions.
In the first sentence in the story, I did not understand what did the author mean the art of invisible strength then it explained that it is a strategy for winning argument related with chess game. I’m not sure about this one.
Waverly’s mother seems to be very discipline to her child since she told Waverly to “Bite back your tongue”. I felt this phrase is very powerful and the tones in the phrase show anger or frustration. Parents have different ways to discipline their own child. Seem like her mother probably practice authoritarian or permissive or both. As the narrator had stated, “My mother imparted her daily truths so she could help my older brothers and me rise above our circumstances.”
When Waverly said, “I didn’t think we were poor. My bowl was always full…” For this, to me it seem like her mother is conservative. I wonder what roasted watermelon seeds (Roasted Watermelon) taste like. I never try this before except in raw.
Sanddabs? (Sanddabs) I never heard of it before. I think I probably have seen one in the Aquarium in South Africa. I do not really like Aquarium but that is the only ways that people can save some living organism from the ocean. Waverly related the sanddabs with her mother’s story of how the girl got crashed by the cab look flat like the sanddabs. This is really heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. Would this consider traumatic since the author is scare to look at the sanddabs?
Tourists seem to be referring to American who went in to the Chinese restaurant but never went to Hong Kong. I am little confused with this sentence. Now I understand why we have the Name Story Project since the narrator got her name after the street where she lived. She must have be the immigrant coming from China and had to change her name to American name as her family tends to called her Meimei.
“Chinese torture” must be offensive terms to insult Chinese people. I believe “Chinese torture” must have meant for Chinese immigrant as most American do not want them in California. The Congress was able to pass the Exclusion Act of 1882 to get rid of Chinese immigrants. Unfortunately the Chinese immigrants are stuck in California. This story appears to be around mid 1800s when there is California Gold Rush back then.
By the time, Santa asked Waverly how old she was, it was interesting how she said that her age in America and China are different. In America she is seven year old but in China she is eight year old. What is the different between America and China calendar? I know I am the year of the horse since I born in 1990.
Waverly know how to select the right gift base on the size of the box, how it sound when the box is shook, and by testing its weight base on her observation. As a result, she received twelve-pack of Life Savers.
Back to time period of the story, now I think it really take place during World War II during the 1930s of The Great Depression. The narrator had stated that her family living in poverty without being aware of it. I said this which may be possible since her brother, Winston have the replica of a World War II submarine.
After Waverly’s family got back home from celebrating Christmas, Waverly’s mother told Vincent to get rid of the Chess game due to may not accept gift that probably cost too much or would not accept any American gift? “My brothers had deaf ears” explained that his brother is stubborn and no, that does not mean he is deaf.
Waverly is clever of how she was able to find a way to play chess with her brother by giving him Life Savers in exchange to play game with him. While Waverly is learning how to play chess with her brother she kept asking so many questions that she inquire to know such as she asked, “Why aren’t there any women and children?” I never thought of child who will ask this type of question for playing chess. I did not even think of this myself. Maybe this had impacted Waverly from the several events that occur in its society. Her mother warned that it important to know the rules of the foreign country otherwise ones may get in trouble.
Playing chess is not my things since I do not understand how to win the game or how the teams get checkmate. I will be willing to learn how to play chess if someone can teach me. I know that chess use lots of strategies such like the military use strategies during war.
Waverly was smart at her age to be able to find all her “why” questions in the Chinatown library. She was able to comprehend why she should not questions why especially when play chess game. She was able to work her way up to being a better chess player. Like, she had met Lau Po, who has taught her more about chess. I find it strange that she never play chess with any girl/women. Maybe in her time, girl/women think chess is only for boy/men.
When Waverly played with Lau Po, she had lost the game most of the time so she even ran out of her Life Saver. I just find how interesting Waverly used Life Saver to play chess game. This remind me of when playing game especially online and you only have three tries to be able complete/win the game. In addition in the game have different levels of difficulty. Anyway, instead of using Life Saver, “she added new secrets” and Lau Po gave her different names that I found its have similar meaning: “The Double Attack from the East and West Shores. Throwing Stones on the Drowning Man. The Sudden Meeting of the Clan. The Surprise from the Sleeping Guard. The Humble Servant Who Kills the King. Sand in the Eyes of Advancing Forces. A Double Killing Without Blood.” All of those names mean undefeatable. This is how I look at it.
When a man suggested that she go play in the local tournament, she was afraid of going forward if she should get what she want because of her mother speaking of American rules in the past. Her mother said, “Is shame you fall down nobody push you.” Now she realized that she can go only if she want and her mother knew Waverly want to go. Her mother was very supportive which she even give Waverly her chang for good luck.
To explain how Waverly beat the fifteen-years-old boy in playing chess, the author translate of how they play chess into a story by using nature object such as wind and sand. The author also used personification of the nature object.
By the time, Waverly wins many championship for playing chess, she was fortunate to not doing the chores, instead her brothers will do the chores. Waverly’s mother has interesting perspective of how Waverly worked so hard to win chess tournament while Vincent did a little. As Waverly mother had put it, “Is new American rules…Meimei play, squeeze all her brains out for win chess. You play, worth squeeze towel.” Does it sound harsh? Vincent probably is crestfallen or dispirited. What do you think? What is American Rules?
In awhile when Waverly was playing chess, there are many things that distracted her especially her mother. Eventually, she got annoyed by her mother because she felt embarrassed. I am sure some teens experienced this situation when they accomplish something that their parents seem to make it their own. I totally understand how she feel when her mother showoff about her playing chess because she is well-known. I have been there before. Recently, mother kept telling people that I went to Europe for Cultural Exchange Program (CEP), I went to South Africa recently during the summer and how I get there, and that I am the Valedictorian of the Class. I understand that my mother is proud of what I have been doing but when she do it too much, it no fun. I will have to smile to people every time they congratulated me and sometime I have to pretend I know what they are talking about since I am deaf and they are hearing. Sometime I would rather to tell the people myself than other people to say it for me. Does that make sense?
People who are ashamed of their own parent(s) are considered rude, instead those people should accept the fact that their parents want to support them and to guide them. That is hard especially because ones may feel it will reveal their flaws while the people perceive them to be flawless.
Waverly might also felt that her mother is stealing her talent because at the end of the story her mother has potential to conquer her in chess. Waverly had left one piece that had shown that her mother was right as she quotes, “Better to lose less, see if you really need.” Her mother had found rules of the game to win for chess. This is one reason why it is important to listen to others even if you are intelligence. To listen is to learn. One problem…how will you know if it’s the truth? No matter how many times Waverly have been challenge, she will always find a way. I think the point of the story is to not limit yourself of what you cannot do, instead find other solutions.
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