final post (6)

Quote 1: pg 470
"I have been staring across the parking lot at a pay phone, and now I see it as an invitation. I decide that I should call my own number, to ring my stolen phone. I have nothing to lose in doing so." said by the narrator

Significance: I think this quote shows that even though Valentino is trying to fit in in America, and not try to stand out as an immigrant, he still has a hard time. He got his phone stolen, and wants it back, but he is trying to think like an American like "What is there to lose?" that shows that even though this whole book is really only a few days of his life (Except for his memories) he still wants to be welcomed in America. (if you know what I mean)

Personal connection: I connect to Valentino in this quote because, when something that isn't so good happens to me, I think about things I can do to try to make it better, and i think to myself "What can I loose?"

Question 1: Have you ever had a time when you were not have a great day, and you think something good will happen after, but it doesn't? Explain. If not, then think about what you would want to happen after a good day.

Quote 2: Pg. 484 "How can our country recover when we loose the youth?" said by a random adult in Sudan

Significance: I really like this quote becauseit showed that all of that walking and suffering in Sudan and Ethiopia payed off, because all of the kids went to school, learned another language, learned to read, learned to write, and learned to cook, and now a lot of them are dying again. \

Personal connection: I don't think I can really connect to this quote, because I didn't want for a month at a time, and I am not suffering, and no one around me is dying, but I just really liked this quote. also the person who said this quote didn't even have a name, so I cannot connect to him.

Question 2: have you ever had a time where you worked so hard to get to something, or make something, and it just ends or break, or you just don't get to finish?

post 5

Quote 1: page 336 "We were told to gather everything we could and prepare to leave. By the time I arrived at our shelter, it was already empty" said by the narrator

Significance: This quote shows how much the traveling boys have to move all over the country. They also do not have a lot of shelter, and space to live, and not many belongings to bring with them.

Personal connection: I am not very much like Valentino. I ave a nice house to live at, and I have not been traveling for months all across Africa. I think that Achak deserves a great life in America, and also all of the other traveling boys do too.

Question 1: How would you feel if you were always having to leave cities, because of wars or rebels, and invasions?

Quote 2: page 342 "We walked for an hour, the wind wild and warm, when we heard an animal sound. This was not the sound of an adult-we heard much of that on the way, moaning and retching-this was a baby, wailing in a low voice" said by the narrator

Significance: This quote stands out to me, because everyone is getting moved out of cities, and everyone is hungry, and baby's are crying, and people are moaning, and dying right then and there.

Character judgement: I feel bad for Achack, and all of the traveling people, and the baby's who are angry, and everyone is dying. I don't think that any of them deserve to live in these conditions.

Question 2: If you were Achak and you had been walking for months, and having barley and food, would you want to die like most of the other people, or would you want to live, and finally make a life in a new country? Explain.

post 4

Quote 1: "Achak! Are you okay?" It takes me a moment to compose myself. "What the hell is this?" he asks. "I was attacked," I finally say. "We were robbed." this was said by Achor Achor, the narrator, and Achak (Valentino) on page 231 (first page of chapter 15)



Significance: This quote shows how hard it is for immigrants to live in America. Achak and Achor Achor got robbed, because a lady saw him, and he was African, and she tricked him, and robbed and beat him up.

Personal connection: I think Achor Achor should be probably really mad and sad at the same time because he just found out that he got robbed, and his best friend/room mate got beat up.

Question 1: If you were Achor Achor and you just walked into your house, and everything is thrown everywhere, and most of your things were stolen, what would you do?

Quote 2: "I can pay you in cash for whatever you do," I say. "We don't take cash," Julian says. "But don't worry. We'll treat you whether you have insurance or not. Like i said-not sweat" said by the doctor, Julian, and Valentino on page 240

Significance: I like this quote because it shows how Achor Achor and Valentino are kind of confused, and don't really know a lot about the real world in America, and how they don't have experiences at places like the hospital in America

Character Judgement: I think that Valentino didn't deserve to be robbed, because he is just trying to learn how America works. I think that Valentino is just another man, and it doesn't matter id him and Achor Achor are African, but they are just trying to be American.

Question 2: If you were Valentino, what would you be thinking about that whole time you were getting robbed and beat up?