Immigration Project Reflection

I really liked my literature circle book. I was happy with my book choice because as a woman I felt like I connected with all of the female characters. I learned a lot about what went on in Asia during Maxine's young adulthood and how children were sold as slaves so that their parents could afford food. I liked seeing my group's thoughts on the subject of slavery and their perspectives on the characters.
I like dialectical journals better because the format is easier to follow for me. I didn’t like blogging because technology isn’t always reliable and it can fail you. I like meetings better I think they are more interactive. I had problems remembering to actually get online. I often just wanted to pick up a DJ. Blogging was harder to focus on. My group members were very good at their character analysis. When I looked at their posts I often thought of the book in another way and appreciated them for enlightening me.
When I was thinking about my painting I knew that I wanted it to be unique and creative. Instead of being blunt and obvious I painted an abstract painting that was also filled with symbolism. I don’t know if there was a connection that was clearly made between my art piece and the literature I read. Certain symbols and colors show a lot of the character’s emotions and struggles throughout the book but if I didn’t paint the piece and I was looking at it I wouldn’t know it was from that particular book.
I liked the final product of my painting. I thought it was creative and well thought out. I think lighter colors around the words in my painting would enhance the quality of my painting. Reflecting my LC novel with art was a great way to really capture the main ideas of the book. I learned exactly how to capture my book.
The interview process went pretty well. It was a little bit rough because my interviewee was gone a lot and was going through some drama. I thought the three-time interview process was rigorous but it was a good way to get to know the interviewee and get all of the information I needed.
I learned that when my interviewee came to America the first thing she thought about was how far away everything was from each other. I learned that the first time she came here to visit was when she was fourteen. I also learned that she had a lot of problems with her family.
This unit really showed me how different every single immigrant’s experience was. It showed me exactly what they had to go through to get here and how many people would kill to be in my place right now.

Woman Warrior #5

QUOTE:
"Chinese people are very weird."--page 158, nieces and nephews of Moon Orchid
SIGNIFICANCE:
This quote relates to question 7. How do Americans treat the characters? American born nieces and nephews thought that the stories and behavior of their Chinese aunt was strange. They failed to realize that their aunt, overwhelmed in the new country, was going crazy. They generalized her abnormal behavior to all Chinese people.
PERSONAL CONNECTION:
I often find that I think things of a certain culture based on one person's actions. I try not to do that and catch myself when I create a stereotype. But it's difficult to not generalize when one knows little of another culture.
QUESTION:
Do you believe in stereotypes?
QUOTE:
"Brave Orchid's daughters decided fiercely that they would never let men be unfaithful to them. All her children made up their minds to major in science and mathematics."--page 160, narrator
SIGNIFICANCE:
This quote connects to question 5. What hardships do the characters endure as they make a new life? The narrator's aunt has gone crazy and ended up without a husband. As a result of this sad story, narrator and her siblings decided to educate themselves to be self-reliant and to maintain the interest of their spouse. The hardships of the aunt shaped the future of her family.
PERSONAL CONNECTION:
I think that education is important. It gives you something to hold on to. It's a way to be resilient in the face of obstacles.
I plan to go to a university and depend on myself.
QUESTION:
Is education important? Why or why not?

Woman Warrior #4

QUOTE: " But she never told him that she wanted to come to the Untied States. She waited for him to suggest it, but he never did. Nor did she tell him that her sister had been working for years to transport here here."--page 124, narrator
SIGNIFICANCE:
This quote relates to question 1. Why have the characters in your book come to America? The author's aunt, Moon Orchid, came to the United States to be with her family. Her husband has supported her life for thirty years by sending money to China, but he never asked his wife to come and live with him in the States. Finally she decided, with the help of her sister and daughter, to make the journey to America without his help.
PERSONAL CONNECTION:
I think that distance is a very difficult thing for families. I have family in Florida and New York. It's difficult sometimes, when I would like to see them, but the money or time is an obstacle.
QUESTION:
Why do you think that Moon Orchid's husband never asked her to fly to the United States to be with him?
QUOTE:
"He looked directly at Moon Orchid the way savages looked, looking for lies. "what do you want?" he asked."--page 152, narrator and Moon Orchid's husband
SIGNIFICANCE:
This quote talks about the way Moon Orchid's husband reacted after seeing her for the first time in thirty years. It answers question 4. What challenges do the characters face upon their arrival? Moon Orchid has a husband who wants nothing to do with her. She is stuck depending on her sister and children for companionship.
CHARACTER JUDGEMENT:
Moon Orchid's husband is cold and seems uncaring. He started a new life in the United States, remarried, and forgot about his first wife. He offered to continue giving Moon Orchid money, but emotionally he wants nothing to do with her. I think that he acted without honor and tired to blend in with the American way too much. He should have divorced Moon Orchid.
QUESTION:
Why did moon Orchid's husband offer to continue paying her money even though he had a new life?

Woman Warrior #3

QUOTE:
"Eight year olds were about twenty dollars. Five year olds were ten dollars and up. Two year olds were about five dollars. Babies were free. During the war, though, when you were born, many people gave older girls away for free. And here I was in the United States paying two hundred dollars for you."--page 83, Brave Orchid
SIGNIFICANCE:
This quote has to do with question number 5. What hardships do the characters endure as they make a new life? The author of the book relates a conversation she had with her mother, Brave Orchid, about the way life was back in China. The mother is explaining to the author about how slave trade worked in China and how little value girls had back in her homeland. The reason why this quote relates to the question is that the author feels distant from her mother and has difficulty accepting western way of life while still respecting and understanding her mother's traditions.
PERSONAL CONNECTION:
This quote made me think of how difficult women and children have it in various parts of the world. In United States we take children's and women's rights for granted. I am a strong woman who got to choose her own path. I feel very privileged.
QUESTION:
What kind of emotions does this quote stir in you? Why?
QUOTE:
"My mother has cooked for us: raccoons, skunks, hawks, city pigeons, wild ducks, wild geese, black-skinned bantams, snakes, garden snails..."--page 90, narrator
SIGNIFICANCE:
This quote relates to question number 6. How do the characters maintain their cultural ties to their homeland while living in America? In this passage the mother is shown to cook foods unusual by American standards. In that way she retains cultural ties with her homeland. Although Brave Orchid is far from home, her cooking is a way to remind herself and her children of China.
PERSONAL CONNECTION:
This quote made me think of all the foods my mom cooks that are traditional to my culture. We eat latkas, gefelta fish, etc.
Food is a huge part of my culture, even if it seems strange to those who are not Jewish.
QUESTION:
What are some dishes that are important to your family? Why are they important?