Little Saigon By David St. John

Saigon is one of the cities in Vietnam. This story could be related with World War I or II. I forgot the history of it.

Departure

The mother of Ngoc Be know that the place that they live in is not safe anymore after Ngoc Be's father died. The father may be murdered from someone probably during the Vietnam war. The mother already prepared to pack suitcase for Mai Chi and Ngoc Be to sent them away from war. She was brave to secretly find a way to be ship by Jack Pirate to leave Saigon. They went onto the secret passage to

Adrift

The man who push the mother onto the other boat should not be separated from the family due to crowded boat. Ngoc Be care for her sister, Mai Chi while their mother is in the other boat. They were able to survive in the boat by a cruel Pirate and through hunger, thirst, dirt, etc. They was able to arrive to Austraila to refresh themselve. They have not seen their mother yet.

Little Saigon

Ngoc Be recalled the nun at school the chapter related to America, Hollywood, which she is in California with Mai Chi. They are longing for their mother to come home since for three years they have not heard much about her. Her mother called to them that she will come home. Ngoc Be's Mother's cousin is ashame of her for exposing her body or how she approach to the Jack Pirate. Her Mother's cousin probably have a hard to time to accept them for who they are. Since Mai Chi's father is a black American soldier, her mother's cousin probably doesn't believe in interracial relationship. Mai Chi is mixed which make sense why Jack Pirates think she is ulgy and is wild like animals. Ngoc Be and Mai Chi still protect each other especially in the hateful neighborhood.

My Parisian Aunt

Ngoc Be's clothes reminded her Mother's cousin of her Aunt Kahnh that live in Paris, France become a whore. I find it interesting how her aunt became a whore only for her instinct to survival. When Aunt Kahnh wrote a letter that she will visit them soon, their Mother's cousin get upset because she is concerned for having a whore in her house this remind me of a person who doesn't actually understand why she become whore without background information. Their mother had passed away as Aunt Kahnh told the tragic news after Ngoc Be asked why her Aunt asked if Mai Chi and she want to go to Paris with her.

The Marais

Aunt Kahnh had described how Mother died as she is gone through the wave of the ocean. The Mother had a trusted woman with her knew about it. Ngoc Be was happily to be at Paris with her Aunt and she had received painting materials since she tend to have coffee with the painter. By the time Mai Chi was calling Ngoc Be for Super, Ngoc Be let Mai Chi look at her painting that show their mother walking in the Old Saigon. The painting had shown the Mother with the peacock by her side when she walked to home and this is what Mai Chi had dream of Mother. Now they both know their mother is safe and is at peace as so are them.

On the Rainy River By Tim O'Brien and The Setting Sun and the Rolling World By Charles Mungoshi

"On the Rainy River"
By Tim O'Brien

The author have expressed interesting story. I enjoy reading this story because this can applied to anyone who felt they have to suffered to do something in order for other to accept them. That considered oppression. I did felt similar way with the narrator and expressing myself was hard for me especially when I was young. Wow, oppression is definitely a big issues all over the world but unfortunately we can not make oppression disappear.

Tim O'Brien hate war but he was drafted to fight for his country and does not want to look bad for his family.

He felt war is immortal and/or killing living things are immortal.
He hate boy scout.
He hate camping.

He hate seeing blood which make him queasy.

He does not like authority.

He does not want to risk his life for being dead for his people.
He do not like declottering the pig in the slaughterhouse.

He does not like when he smell like a pig because he had a hard time making the pig smell fade away.
He basically does not like dealing with dead living things as he stated, "You can't fix your mistakes. Once people are dead, you can' make them undead." LIFE IS LIKE A GAME.
He cannot bear for being responsible for people's death which he does not intend to. This is like if someone told you have choice either for me to kill your family or you have to use suicide bomb in New York City what would you have choose? No matter what you pick you are stuck. Maybe not that kind of extreme example but hopefully you will understand what I mean.

He was not happy and felt ashamed for what he did but nobody know this until he wrote this book.

He does not know where to go.

He afraid of being exile.

He want to be release and be himself so he went to Canada nearby the Rainy River at the Tip Top Lodge. I did not realize that Rainy River is the actual name for the river till I look at the Internet.

The old man at the Tip Top Lodge save his life just by being there him, provide him what he need, for letting him cry all he want, and mostly for understanding his struggle. The man is his hero. The man had stated that is Jesus is with Tim which the man know he need it.

He have giving out all he had on the Rainy River where he can be himself and not to pretend to be someone else. I think the man have the purpose of why he took Tim to the Rainy River for him to reflect his life.

The man taught Tim a lesson that he have to face the reality instead of avoiding the problems that he had in his life.

He know who he is.

He is liberal.

He agree with God to be against war. God possibly will condemn people who is at war.
He want a life that he aim for.

He want a choice for him to make decision not someone make decision for him. This is why it important for people to begin with the end in mind. This can applied for those people who follow what their parents decided for their career and they ended up unhappy and realized they want a different career.

He still went to war.

He is still afraid; therefore, he is a coward.

So then, of course he is still unhappy.

Make your life worthwhile before you regret it although it never too late.

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World
By Charles Mungoshi

I had to read this story more than one time. When I first read this story I was confused what the story about. The author sure use lots of figure of speech.

Old Musoni faced the difficulities of letting his son, Nhamo, go since Nhamo seem to be first person to be educated in his family. Old Musoni seem to be afraid of what future will hold in store for Nhamo as he stated if his son are aware of the danger in the world when he start his journey. Nhamo lived on the farm and his family is poor. Nhamo believe the only way he can do is to move on with his life as to grab the opportunities to start his journey out there instead of staying home with his family working on the farm. His father at first disagree that there is no other way but to stay with the family. Old Musoni probably is proud of his son that he received education but he probably have a hard time to let his son go. For this, I think it possible because Nhamo told his father:

"You have sent me to school and told me the importance of education, and now you ask me to throw it on the rubbish heap and scrape for a living on this tired cold shell of the moon. You ask me to forget it and muck around in this slow dance of death with you. I have this one chance of making my own life, once in eternity, and now you are jealous. You are afraid of your own death."

(page 161)

Rubbish is used in this story. I think rubbish mean like a leftover or trash for this story. Before I forget to add, the father probably is afraid of his own death but I think there is a meaning there of why the father is afraid of his death. Nhamo's father was not able to receive the same the opportunities like his son. Old Musoni was worried lots for his son future as he kept asking his son if he know what is like to lost hope, in despair, or any other danger that can cause him to get in trouble.

When the father accept Nhamo, even though the father is stubborn, to start on his journey he et his son go then Nhamo was able to be free from the chain. Nhamo begin a new journey as he become successful while his family including his ancestor have never be able to succeed due to fear of the world or opportunity. Nhamo break the chain that his family had repeated history of making the same mistake which I think it why the title is call "The Setting Sun and the Rolling World".

I think the purpose of the story is to not be afraid to try new things. You will never know what will happen unless you try. Everyday is the new beginning as the sun will rise and fall similar applied to life.

This remind me of the song from Lion King called "Circle of Life".

Beautiful & Cruel By Sandra Cisneros and Trip in a Summer Dress by Annette Sanford

Beautiful & Cruel

By Sandra CisneroAn ugly daughter (narrator) received nothing while a beautiful daughter (Nenny) is spoiled. I am trying to figure it out the character of narrator and who she possibly could be. I am not sure if I understand the story 100%. When I see the name Minerva, this reminded me of Cinderella. So, I thought this story could be similar to Cinderella story. Later on, I realized it probably totally different.

Nenny seem to get everything she can get even though she have a baby as the author quotes, "Nenny has pretty eyes and it's easy to talk that way if you are pretty". I suppose this can be true even if she is cruel she can talk to people out of it to get what she want.

Right is the narrator name is Minerva?

Well if it is then Minerva decided not to be like Nenny instead she want to be humble but tough like a man instead of being "like others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain". Minerva and Nenny have different personality and look as well that display different characteristic.

Trip in a Summer Dress

By Annette Sanford

The narrator was moving with Bill Richards to marry him since marriage things it the big things for Bill and he think that Matthew is the narrator's mother's son. Really, Matthew is the son of the narrator. I felt like the narrator choose to be with the man than being with her own son but at the same time she could have bring Matthew with her after her marriage.

The narrator life is almost parallel to her mother's life since both have child at fifteen years old. Her mother got married but then soon the narrator will get marry.

I thought it was interesting how the narrator compare herself as Moses' sister when she had to send her own baby away and eventually was received by the queen while the narrator's child is taken care by her mother. I still do not understand why the narrator's mother have to take care the narrator's child. The story itself does sound heartbreaking and sad. She did said that it was hard for her to forget about Matthew since he is still in her heart as she stated, "I didn't look once at Matthew, but I felt him, even when he wasn't crying. He had hold of me way down deep and wouldn't let go for love nor money." She was a patient enough to let her mother to be the son of her child but she did stated that she want her son to know who his real mother. How can ones leave their love ones but then she said she have a reason for that. I still could not figure it out why. As I read carefully, the narrator had stated that she would never leave her son so does that mean her mother do not allow her to take care of her own son?

The narrator accidentally got pregnant by the wrong man I suppose from E. E. Davis and does not really love him. That very common for many young girls who accidentally got pregnant.

This story can be hard to follow because of so many flashbacks that got me confused sometime.

The narrator had told her child a story about the redbird when she took her son to the park. She try to tell Matthew that what happen to the cowbirds that was feed by the redbird is the same situation that applied to him but he is still kind of to young to understand although kids are smart and they will remember things. Matthew think his mother is the one that suppose to be his grandmother.

When the narrator was riding on the bus she saw a young girl remind her of Matthew. Later at the end of the story when the young girl have to meet her parents that does not really care about their daughter. When the narrator told the girl's parents that the girl is in the bathroom the girl's parents was digusted with it.

I agree with the narrator when she said, "If I was my mother, I'd get mighty tired of always being right." on page 131.

I find it hard to "leave the child". This almost remind of serrogate as it hard for the mother to give away their child from their body to someone else since some women can not get pregnant.

Dawn By Tim Wynne-Jones

"Dawn" is the interesting story. I got confused by some part of the story. This does not seem like a American story.

Barnsey admired by Dawn who look strange and different. At first when he met Dawn at the bus he thought that Dawn was strange then later found out that she was cool due to she dressed up as a punk. Before he met Dawn, his mother told him that she will see him in a while as soon as possible. This was strange to him because his mother tend to ride with him on the bus to his grandmother house. So, this time he is by himself. Why did his mother gave the bus driver tips? Later the bus driver gave Barnsey the money from his mother anyway.

At first I thought Barnsey and Dawn age is probably close till I realized that Barnsey is 13 while Dawn is about 23 years old. Barnsey and Dawn share some similar interest. Both of them like to listen to music from the tape, Xiphoid Process. I wonder what type of music is that. When Dawn told Barnsey to listen to one of her tape, Barnsey can not hear. Then Dawn told him to listen closely and carefully then he was able to hear it. This is like you are seeing something that you have never see before or like you have to clean your glasses to see or understand things better.

Then later Dawn have left somewhere to different places while Barnsey went to his grandmother house. When Barnsey saw only his dad arrive, he knew something is wrong. His parents had divorce which he wish he was told before. Changing is difficult for him to adjust because he it's abnormal for him to see his parents separated. His father have gave Barnsey all the love that he can give and help to reinforce him to a new change.

Before I forget, Barnsey got influenced from Dawn by saying "rubbish". Once Dawn had said it, then Barnsey have said it repeatedly more often. Could be part of preteen things as they tend to say things that they like to use repeatedly.

By the time Barnsey want to escaped and he was thinking about going with Dawn, his role model, which he had miss her. Barnsey left in the morning to go to the bus. His dad dress up unprepare find his son waiting at the bus station was worry. Before that when Barnsey was looking for his tape to listen while he waiting for the bus, he find the note from Dawn that Dawn have gave tape to Barnsey. His dad hug him and making sure that he is okay then when Barnsey told his dad to listen to the tape that Dawn have gave him. Both of them listen to the tape together, for this it seem that they have created a bond again as father and son. Dawn had giving Barnsey a new beginning since Barnsey is getting accostume to the new change.

Bad Influence By Judith Oritz Cofer

Rita is a fifteen years old girl who received consequence from her parents to "either go to Catholic girls' retreat or to my mother's folks the island" for two weeks. Rita decided to go to her grandparent house that live in San Juan, Pureto Rico. This place is very hot and her grandparent live by the beach. What did Rita do? Well, she got in trouble with her friend, Meli, for sleeping with Johnny and Joey, the basketball star in East High School. Rita's parents did not think that this was acceptable. Rita vacation with her grandparents turned out to be fantastic instead of having punishment. Does she actually learn anything from her grandparents?

I thought it was kind of funny how Rita's parents had told the family that she have asthma by misinterpret and probably assume due to Rita practice Zen. Zen is the purpose for practice deep breathing;therefore, Rita does not have asthma. When her grandmother try to make her tea and do different things to make sure Rita's health had improve later she realized that Rita does not have asthma.

Her grandparents does live in on the farm. There was one of the rooster who can not tell time like the other regular rooster. The rooster thought day is night time while night is day time. How silly is that. Seem like that doesn't bother her grandparents.

Juan, Rita grandfather, help people getting away from evil spirit that make them ill. This is similar concept of helping people with mental illness or as Mama Ana said their brain is sick. He had to go help Angela the skinny girl to heal. Rita had went over to Angela house with her grandparents. Eventually, when Mama Ana invited her to come have dinner with them outside, Rita became friend with Angela. Angela had went over to Rita's birthday party and she mostly keep Rita company.

By the time Rita got back home, she still finding a way to meet with her friend, Meli and probably finding Johnny as well. I think she mostly want together with Meli while her parents was trying to separated both of them. Her parents' punishment for her does not seem to work as Rita had find some advantage and capable of meeting with Meli.

In my opinnion I did not think it was a good idea to separate friendship just because they got in trouble for sleeping with the boys. Hopefully they learned their lesson as their parents want them to. If they both are pregrant then that will be a huge lesson for them to learn. Friendship can last forever and their influence on each other can remain. I thought maybe Rita learned her lessons from her grandparent and probably Angela as well during her two week vacation. I guess not because she still went back to her old habit. Maybe if her parents' adjust the punishment that will seem more reasonable since her parents think Rita's behavior for sleeping with the boy was wrong. Rita said she does not actually sleep with the boy so her parents' probably thought she did something extreme as they may have misinterpret what they have seen or heard. I think having discussion about what happening to Rita and Meli with the basketball star boys to give Rita a better consequence.

The Circuit By Francisco Jimenez

The Circuit seem to be touchy story. I have read a story like this where a child have to help their family earn money by working in the farm. Since they have move to different places a lot of time the child is not able to get enough education.

Francisco was looking forward to go to school but at the same time he seem to be nervous or afraid to go back to school. His brother, Roberto did not go to school instead he is helping his father to work on the farm. I wonder why Roberto determine not to go to school? My assumption is that he did not want to go to school because he had enough going to different school in different time period.

Francisco was able to go to school and register by himself. Not many children around his age register for school. He did have troubled trying to used either English or Spanish. When the teacher, Mr. Lema asked Francisco if he is willing to read the book to class, he was not ready. Later on Mr. Lema was able to help him read and gain more vocabulary. Mr. Lema had offered him to learn to play corridos during his lunch hour with him but by the time Francisco got home before he knew it he have to move again. This already deprive from his excitement of learning how to play corridos. Moving to different places to earn money since his family is penniless he is not able to get enough education. When I read the last part of the story I was shocked because he and his family have to move again because it was like anytime they probably will move even in a minute.

This had remind me of my tour to Europe for a week. I went to Europe in the last spring break for Culture Exchange Program (CEP) with a group. Anyway, while I was there with Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) and Virginia school we have to move to different places to follow the schedule since we visit seven countries. We traveled by using Bus most of the time. Sometime some of us were confused because like I thought we was going to stay at Brussel, Belgium but really we just visit there then get on the bus and go to Netherland to stay there. Sometime we stay at the hotel for one night so it can get crazy. The different between Francisco and my experience is my is already schedule when we will travel to the next countries or stay in different hotel while Francisco is unexpected because he may move anytime.