immigration reflection

Literature Circle Books/ Blogs
I was not very happy with my choice of book. I didn't really like the whole storyline of it. It went back and forth from present day to back when the main character, Achak, was a child. To me, that was very confusing and hard to concentrate on. I also didn't like how long the book was, and just kept going on and on about pretty much the same things, and Achak having the same problems. Of course, the book did have a lot of good parts in it, and some heavy action parts, but most of it just felt long, and difficult to concentrate on.

I learned all about the war that happened in Africa a few years ago. I learned how hard it is for people to immigrate to America, and how long it takes for them to get used to the differences between the 2 countries. I learned a lot about the main character, Achak, who came to America from Africa, and got treated very unfairly.

If I could add anything to the LC process, I think I would keep it like how it was 1st semester. Where we met in the group, and had the vocabulary, and talked to each other in person, not just through the blogs. I didn't really mind doing the blog posts, it would have just been easier to meet in person, because I thought the book was really confusing.

I thought it was good to just find 2 quotes from the pages that you read and only write about those, instead of briefly writing about 2 quotes, but also having to explain the characters, and some vocabulary.

I liked how the other people got to comment on our blogs, because if i didn't understand something, the other people would explain it to me. Also, I liked it, because sometimes it would help you think of things a different way.

Art & Literature
I chose to make a new book cover for my book. I chose to do this because I thought that the original book cover was a little plain and boring. The book cover that i made reflected on the book, because it has the 4 main parts of the book; Africa, USA, and the main character in two different ages, when he was a little boy, and when he was all grown up.

I do feel like there was a connection made between my book cover, and the book, because I think that my book cover was completely about the book. Like I said, it had the 4 main parts of the book, and it fit with the book perfectly.

I think that my final painting came out very good. I messed up on a few places, like the main characters face, because the brush was too big, and I had a very hard time tracing the picture onto the canvas. Besides those few things, I think that it came out very neat and clean, and I was very proud of it.

I believe that my book cover was a lot better when it was colored with colored pencils, because I messed up painting quite a bit. If we could turn them in as a colored picture, not a painting, mine would be a lot better.

Interview process with participant & gift
The interview process was not very smooth for me. It was very stressful, and i got kind of nervous through out it. I had some technical problems, and I felt like i was behind the whole time. The thing I didn't like the most was interviewing on the phone, because I don't like talking on the phone, and then i had to talk to someone that I had never met before.

Like I said, I didn't mind interviewing the person. The email interview was the best, and the easiest, the in person interview was fine, but I had some problems with the computer when i was trying to have it, and the on the phone interview was very stressful, and not very fun at all.

I thought it was cool that I got to interview, and learn about a person that immigrated here from Nicaragua. I thought it was fun to learn about the cultures, and traditions in that country. These interviews did help me reflect on the curriculum that we were learning in class at that time.

I made my immigrant a scrapbook that had a lot of different things in it. I had some pages about him and his journey to America. I had some pages about Nicaragua, and America similarities and differences. I had some things he did as a child, and many more. I hope he really liked this scrapbook that I made, because I spent a lot of time on it, and I was very proud of the final products.

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?

post 3

Quote 1: page 187 said by Valentino
"In front of me, I saw nothing but boys, some of them bathing in the water. Behind me, there was nothing but darkness and a path."

Significance: This has to do with the questions because when you are traveling, you never know what you are going to run into. Good things, or Bad things. This one ended up being a river to bathe in, and this one ended up being his long lost friend, William K.

Character Judgement: I think that after Valentino found his friend, he would be so happy because he had made that 6 week journey with people that he didn't know, and he thought that he lost William K, but then he found him.

Question 1: If you just found one of your best friends after about six weeks thinking that they were dead, how would you react? what would you do?

Quote 2: page 208 said by Valentino:
"The food I had eaten gave me strength, as had the secret of the round-bellied man, and yet i was relatively certain that I was dying."

Significance: I think that it is so sad that even though he ate, Valentino, and all the other boys are so weak from running, walking, and hiding all day everyday for the past month and a half ish.

Personal connection: I think that I would defiantly not make it after all those days with so little food, and sometimes no food for up to a week. I feel bad for Valentino, because if I were him, I think I would feel like I was dying too

Question 2: How would you feel if you were in Valentino's position after eating, and feeling like you are dying?

post 2

Quote 1: page 91 said by Valentino's mom
"Okay. Stay here. I have to see what's happening to her. I won't go far. Okay? If i can't see anything I'll come right back. You stay. Be completely silent, okay?"

Signifigance: This quote has to do with the questions because it shows how hard Valentino and his mom, and every other Sudanese person from their village had. The army came, and burned the houses, chopped people's heads off and shot them. This quote is showing when Valentino and his mom were escaping from the army, and hid at his aunts house, and something happened to the aunt and the mom was going to see what happened.

Character judgement: I think that Valentino's mom is a verry caring mother, and cares about the saftey of her child, and family members more then she cares about herself. I think she is a very great mother, and a great person.

Question 1: If you were in Valentino's position, would you have waited for your mom to get back, or would you have left like he did?

Qoute 2: page 107 said by Valentino
I woke in the morning and shook the rocks from my head and got up and walked and ran and when I heard a sound or saw a figure in the distance, I crawled

Signifigance: This quote has to do with the questions on Ms. Abbassi's blog becasue it is showing more hard times, and just day to day things that Valentino has to deal with. He has almost no food and water, and has to hide every time he sees someone.

Character Judgement: I think that Valentino is a nice person that has had one of the hardest lifes in the world. From escaping from armies, to makeing a new life in america and getting robbed. After all that Valentino has lived through, I think he should be happy that he is still alive.

Questin 2: If you were in Valentino's position, would you have stayed with the big group of people or gone alone? why?

field trip reflection

Jewish Museum
The purpose of this museum is to learn about the Jewish culture. some things i learned are that 9,000 Jews fought for the Union in the Civil War, and 3,000 fought for the confederacy. in the 1880s, millions of Yiddish speaking Jews came from Russia, Romania, and Australia. They were fleeing religious freedom. in the 1930s, there was a crisis for the Jews with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party. I learned that Judaism has taken a big part in America today.

Children Immigrant Museum
Picture: Family from Cambodia (Chicago 2001)
Description: Mom and dad holding twin baby girls in white fluffy dresses, with a sad little girl wearing a gingham dress. This strikes me because every one looks sad except for the dad is just happy that he is in a new safe place, but the rest of the family misses thier country, I chose this becasue it made me think about what its like to come to a new country.

Quote: " America has everything we need: thechnology, goods. At least on eperson from every nation lives here. People immigrate to America because they know its a land of freedom and a better life, I see America as a land of oppertunities."
-Tamara Frank, Poland from Between Cultures
I chose this quote becasue it made me think about how great America is, and that we do have everything that any one would ever need.

Personal Essay: Paul Tram - The Preuss School UCSD
This essay is about a man telling the story of his mothers life. this essay shows me how hard it is to be an immigrant in a new country, and especially if your family is struggling with money or any thing else.

What is the What post 1

Quote 1: Valentino says this (but it is not in quotations), page 29 (i don't know what page for Alex) paragraph 2

Quote: When I first came to this country, I would tell silent stories. I would tell them to people who had wronged me. If someone cut in front of me in line, ignored me, bumped me or pushed me, I would glare at them, staring, silently hissing a story to them. You do not understand, I would tell them. You would not add to my suffering if you knew what I have seen.

Significance: This relates to number 5 (on Ms. Abbassis blog) number 5 says "What hardships do the characters endure as they make a new life?" No one respects Valentino because he is black. He is from Sudan, and all of the white people are not nice to him, and this is what he thinks every time someone is mean to him. Slowly through out the book, he is telling bits and pieces of him traveling to America, and getting out of Sudan.

Personal Connection: My personal connection to Valentino is that I think it is sad for him. even though he is in a new country, and he has a new home with his friend, he is still sad because he misses his family, and his home town, where he doesn't get made fun of because he is black.

Question: Do you think that Valentino will move away because people will probably keep robbing him because he is black (not African-American)?

Quote 2: Valentino (he is like the only one who has talked in this book) page 31 paragraph 3

Quote: The lion was a simple black silhouette, broad shoulders, its think legs outstretched, its mouth open. It jumped from the grass, knocked a boy from its feet. I could not see this part, my vision obscured by the line of boys in front of me. I heard a brief wail. Then I saw the lion clearly again as it trotted to the other side of the path, the boy neatly in its jaws.

Significance: This quote relates to number 2 (on Ms. Abbassis blog) number 2 says "What was the journey like coming to America?" This shows how hard it was to walk through the desert at night for all the boys who were coming to America. It was dangerous but they still had to keep walking, and they couldn't wait for anyone if they stopped. There were a lot of wild animals at night and during the day, and less then half of the boys died from the animals.

Character Judgement: I think Valentino is a great man with a lot of stories to tell from his past. from walking so many miles through the desert, to getting robbed and beat up in his own house. I think that Valentino is a well brought up man, that will do great in America.

Question 2: Do you think that Valentino will ever forget the horrible times of traveling to America?

Lindsay Miedema

My Oppinion on Immigrants

My definition of an immigrant is a person that comes to a country from another country to make a better life for themselves and their family. I think being an immigrant doesn’t mean anything about being illegal in the United States, I think that immigrants should be able to make money here in America, so they and their families can be happy.

My connection to immigrants is not very big. I don’t think that I know any immigrants, but my mom’s grandparents came from Italy to the United states when my grandpa was just a boy. But I never met them so I don’t really count that as a connection to immigrants.

I think that a lot of immigrants come to the United States to make a living for themselves, and make a lot of money to send to their parents or brothers or sisters so they can come to America and make a living for themselves too. Also I just think that great things happen in the United States, and it is a great place to be. I think that immigrants come to the United States so they can get out of their own countries and live a better, happier life.

If there were not immigrants in San Diego or America, then there would probably be half the population then there already is. If you look on the streets, you see people of all different ethnicities, and from all different countries. You never see only American or white people, there all different people in the world that come to America.