The Circuit by Fransico Jiménez

Circuit means turn over and cycle

The story is written by Latino auteur. I can notice it by Spanish name and the story. The story is about immigration and getting job. I suspect that the story is from experience of auteur. Because of his family need money. So Boy, his name is Panchito, moved with his family to terrible shack and work for bracero program. The program is Mexicans moved to America to work at the crops. They get little money for that and live in bad area. I cannot imagine myself to live there and work at the crops. When I was eleven year old. My parents want to move to other place because of my education. My school was one and half hour far from home. I went to school with cab every day. One year before my high school my parents decided to move, because they don’t want to send me to dorms. They want to raise me by themselves. That was our best decision in us life. I am very happy that I live close my deaf school and friends. I won’t move again. Panchito was happy he can get corridos lesson from Mr. Lema. Later he heard bad news that he has to move out. I think because his family were found by American cops. That’s very sad.

As we drove home Papá did not say a word. With both hands on the wheel, he started at the dirt road. My older brother, Roberto, was also silent. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Once in a while he cleared from his throat the dust that blew in from outside. Yes, it was that time of year.

Leaving my home, the circuit, pg 55

Yes, it was that time of year:  I think that means the time of year they have problems with money again. Dad and his brother were sad because they have to look for job again. They are not looking forward to work at the cops in dry area with hot sun, but they have to earn the money to feed family and pay for the school.

That day I could hardly wait to get home to tell  Papá and Mamá that great news. As I got off the bus, my little brothers and sisters ran up to meet me. They were yelling and screaming. I thought they were happy to see me, but when I opened the door to our shack, I saw that everything we owned was neatly packed in cardboard boxes

Leaving my home, the circuit, pg 62

Panchito was happy he could get corridos lesson. That’s Mexican music He wanted to tell to his parents, but he found out that his stuff are packed in cardboard boxes. He understood fast that his family and he have to move back to Mexico. Maybe the teacher of school has told the cops. 

Rules of the game by Amy Tan

The writer was known, she did write many stories. I did read other story ‘Two kinds’. I noticed two stories do have similarities, Amy tended to write about the Chinese background and relationship between mother and daughter. I suspected that she did have same experience as personage in the story. This one is about the chess game. MeiMei’s brother got chess game for Christmas gift. Meimei wants to play chess game, but her mother seemed do not like MeiMei playing chess too, then she became a good player. She did protect MeiMei from outside, but MeiMei did find out how to play by herself. I can remember my brother was huge fan of the chess game. He did play with dad. I did not understand how it works. My brother did explain me. I learned how to play the chess from him. We did play game, but I did not like it because I always lost. Sometimes I tried to confirm I was right and I won Then my brother explained that he was right and wins. I was stubborn. The start of game was nice, but the ended with quarrel, so I did really not focus on the chess game as MeiMei.

Amy Tan with her mother

‘’This is American rules,’’ she concluded at last. ‘’ Every time people come out foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, too bad, go back. They not telling you why so you can use their way go forward. They say, Don’t know why, you find out yourself. But they knowing all the time. Better you take it, find out why yourself’’. She tossed her head back with a satisfied smile.

MeiMei and her family live in USA now. They have to follow the rules of USA. They don’t tell them why, but just use their way to go forward. It has similar with the chess game.  MeiMei doesn’t know the rules and has to find out the rules by herself. That’s what her mom said, I think her mom already has involved in America culture and act like she’s smart. Afterwards MeiMei did research the rules by herself. She tries to learn how to play the chess game. 

Leaving Home, Amy Tan, pg 39

But I found it difficult to concentrate at home. My mother had a habit of standing over me while I plotted out my games. I think she thought of herself as my protective ally. Her lips would be sealed tight, and after each move I made, a soft ‘’Hmmmmph’’ would escape from her nose.

‘’ Ma, I can’t practice when you stand here like that,’’ I said one day. She retreated to the kitchen and made loud noises with the pots and pans.

When I read that sentences, I feel strange about her mother’s behavior. I suspect that her mother doesn’t want MeiMei to have successful because she did bother her during practicing. Her mother’s behavior made MeiMei more frustrated. I think she tried to avoid MeiMei practice the chess game.  Her mother feels she fails.

Leaving home, Amy Tan, pg 49

A gift of laughter by Allan Sherma

A gift of laughter is about father’s relationship with his son and his past.  The personage of the story is writer himself, Allan Sherman, because I read that it tells about Robert Sherman is narrator’s son. I can remember myself before. I cried several times because I want a candy or playing with friends outside when it already was dark. My memories are fragments for me now. I did remember I went to kitchen. My dad and mom was speaking about something important. I tried to attract their attention. They wanted me to let them talk rest, but I didn’t listen to them. My dad was frustrated. My mom also was crazy from me. They sent me to my room. I was crying in my room in whole time. I knew my behavior bad, but I tried to act as poor girl. It didn’t help before my family arrived. I washed my tears fast and tried to show that nothing was happening to me.  When my family left, my parents took me and putted on the chair and waited for my excuses. Before I as child I refused to bid my excuses. My parents said I may to eat dinner if I said sorry to them. Then I realized I was very hungry. I told them I’m sorry. Now I still am stubborn, but I know I have to say sorry if I went wrong.  I also read in the story and know that after bad time or quarrel the relationship between two people were better than before. I had quarreled with my parents many times. Our relationship were very strong now. I realized I have to thank them for everything they taught me.

Just then Robbie slammed the door of his room. But I heard a different door, a door I once slammed – 25 years ago – in my grandmother’s house in Chicago.¹

That’s a suddenly moment for Allan Sherman. The memory did come back through his brain. He remembered the moment from past. He did do that it before too. He slammed his door when his mother was laugh at him.  He did realize his son has committed same feeling as he had before.

Before Uncle sol could answer, Grandma continued, ‘’ it’s beautiful, yess – because from a child is beautiful, anything.’’ ²

Allan must be very happy to hear that sentence. Maybe grandmother did hear what Allan’s mother said to Allan and felt guilty with saying wrong words. She wanted to do something for Allan. Because from a child is beautiful, anything: It impressed Allan too. He did realize that art of his son is beautiful. Whatever he did draw anything. It did help Allan to realize and did do good thing for his son to thank him. He had to thank his grandmother’s lesson.

1. Leaving my home 4^th paragraph, pg 30.

2. Leaving my home 14^th paragraph, pg 32.

My ideal green campus

Until now Gallaudet University and Brown University are only two universities I have touched because my country Netherland doesn’t have campus. The Netherland has only college buildings or area with many college buildings with different majors. The students don’t live in dorms, but they live in a student house.  Student does share kitchen and bathroom with their housemates. So, I’m not used with a campus.

When I walked through campus, I noticed there are many trashes. I didn’t like if many people did throw plastic papers or used drink canned. I like clean environment, so I want to see clean ground and bring and drop – save resources by recycling. The good thing from Gallaudet that I see is vegetable patch with growing plants. That is good way to use the plants for cooking food by dinning center. I want to see more things that are good for environment, such as solar power, biomass boiler, or unique fitness. You see a good image of green campus¹ under. My ideal campus need to have environmental friendly design, innovation, and architecture. 

Not only this claim of environmental friendly things should require, but I also want to have structure map. For example, you see an image of Harvard University map² next. My point is not because Harvard University is famous of the world, but it does have good map, every major has own area. Education part is west of the map and design part is east of the map. The students of Education can cooperate with their mates in same area. They can find each other are easier than all majors mix in one area or building. I have visited Brown University. It is different from Gallaudet University because Brown University doesn’t really have border around campus. Some building, for example church, aren’t belong to Brown, but placed in the middle of university. Gallaudet University has border to protect people from outside because Gallaudet is in the middle of bad area, so Gallaudet University is more isolated than Brown University. 

The architecture of buildings on the campus is difficult to choose because I didn’t touch many universities in USA. Before I started with this blog, I check famous universities, such as Harvard, Brown and Oxford. I noticed I like the architecture of Oxford University because I like the history of medieval. I find out that oxford is city of dreaming spites³ because it has spite towers. The oxford University does have modern buildings too. Every university does have modern building because old buildings can’t stay forever, but I like that kind architecture. It has beautiful color yellow and shape. If you walk between buildings, it gives feeling ambience of old fashioned. But it does have a disadvantage for environmental. Old buildings need more heating inside or good light. It also is difficult to put solar energy on those kind buildings.

For my ideal campus, I want to have a green environmental with environmental friendly design, innovation, and patch for vegetable. The campus map should be structure and easy to find, as Harvard University. The architecture of Oxford University should be there, it gives good atmosphere through area. The university should focus on students. It’s important to have good name to attract students.

Sources

1.     Map of Green Campus

http://www.mihoa.com/architecture-green-campus/green-campus-trail/

2.     Map of Harvard University Campus http://www.map.harvard.edu/?ctrx=759881&ctry=2961624.5&level=6&layers=Campus%20Base%20and%20Buildings,Network%20and%20Communications,Map%20Text

3.     Oxford university

http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/