“The unbreakable bond between my father and his siblings serves as a testimonial that even though their parents lived very short lives, they did something right.”
When something traumatic happens it will usually bring family closer. For Firoozeh’s father, after his parents died the bond between him and his siblings got stronger. This is like Soka and her sisters, because of the Khmer Rouge Soka is trying everything to get her sisters safe. She sends money and puts alerts out in the different camps. The traumatic event made the families realize how much they love meant to each other.
“My father dreamed of ways to get rich that required neither hard work nor further education. His dream was that the doorbell would ring and he would answer it. Standing there would be a man wearing a three-piece navy blue suit... Then the man would inform my father that through a series of unbelievable circumstances, he had come into boatloads of money.”
This doesn’t remind me of Children of the River, but it does remind me of Of Mice and Men. Kazem’s “American dream” was to be rich, like Lennie and George. However, unlike Lennie and George, Kazem did not want to work for his money, he wanted to get it by luck.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Hot Dogs and Wild Geese
"My mother soon decided that the easiest way for her to communicate with Americans was to use me as an interpreter."
This is like at the beginning of Children of the River. The children understood the language quicker than the adults, so Sundara was often a translator for Soka or Grandmother, like Firoozeh is for her mother. It would be hard to be a translator for someone. You would always have to be by their side and be listening. It must have been hard for a little girl to do.
"What I wanted to say was that I wished I could be home watching The Brady Bunch instead of translating the qualities of different facial moisturizers."
This was usually the case with Sundara. She would rather be doing things that normal teenagers would do (like go to football games), but she couldn't because she had to do things for her family, like cook, clean, or work.
"'Y'all are gonna hafta use some elbow grease,' he said. I thanked him and paid him and walked with my mother to the hardware store. After searching fruitlessly for elbow grease, I asked the salesclerk for help. 'It removes stains,' I added. The manager was called."
This is a perfect example of how American sayings can confuse people. Idioms don't make any sense unless you understand what they are representing, and if you are new to the language they can be very confusing.
This is like at the beginning of Children of the River. The children understood the language quicker than the adults, so Sundara was often a translator for Soka or Grandmother, like Firoozeh is for her mother. It would be hard to be a translator for someone. You would always have to be by their side and be listening. It must have been hard for a little girl to do.
"What I wanted to say was that I wished I could be home watching The Brady Bunch instead of translating the qualities of different facial moisturizers."
This was usually the case with Sundara. She would rather be doing things that normal teenagers would do (like go to football games), but she couldn't because she had to do things for her family, like cook, clean, or work.
"'Y'all are gonna hafta use some elbow grease,' he said. I thanked him and paid him and walked with my mother to the hardware store. After searching fruitlessly for elbow grease, I asked the salesclerk for help. 'It removes stains,' I added. The manager was called."
This is a perfect example of how American sayings can confuse people. Idioms don't make any sense unless you understand what they are representing, and if you are new to the language they can be very confusing.
Leffingwell Elementary School
"When I was seven, my parents, my fourteen year old brother, Farshid, and I moved from Abadan, Ira, to Whittier, California."
I believe that Firoozeh's experiences adapting will be similar to Ravy's, and Farshid's will be more like Sundara because they are similar in age. Also, like Sundara's family, Firoozeh's family moved to the west coast of the United States.
"Bacelor No. 3 was my father. Like the other suitors, he had never spoken to my mother, but one of his cousins knew someone who knew my mother's sister, so that was enough."
Like Cambodians, Iranians also have arranged marriages. That became a problem for Sundara because she was not able to date like other Americans because of her old customs. Maybe it will not be a problem for Firoozeh because her family came here willingly.
I believe that Firoozeh's experiences adapting will be similar to Ravy's, and Farshid's will be more like Sundara because they are similar in age. Also, like Sundara's family, Firoozeh's family moved to the west coast of the United States.
"Bacelor No. 3 was my father. Like the other suitors, he had never spoken to my mother, but one of his cousins knew someone who knew my mother's sister, so that was enough."
Like Cambodians, Iranians also have arranged marriages. That became a problem for Sundara because she was not able to date like other Americans because of her old customs. Maybe it will not be a problem for Firoozeh because her family came here willingly.
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