This is a blog for Ms. Brennan's English 2 IS class.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Gathering of Pearls, Blog 4
How does the protagonist feel like an outsider? How does he/she deal
with his/her outsider status? Find a quote from the book that supports your
conclusions.
The protagonist, Sookan, feels like an outsider, because she is a Korean student who studies in America and she is the only Korean at the school. In every chapter, we can see her questioning herself if she has made the right the decision by studying in America and leaving her family, or even by studying a lot and most of the time not spending a lot tot time with her friends. In this chapter something interesting happens. Marci, one of her friends, tells her that she can say no. I believe that Marci does something really important by reminding her that she doesn't have to act like she's in Korea and that she has the chance to say no to the things that she doesn't want to do to. When Marci says that, Sookan tells her that meeting new people, working and studying are the things that she wants to do. I think that she tries to deal with her outsider status by keeping herself busy with a lot of things like working and studying. I believe that she should also spend some time with her friends.
"I know. But I feel that I should do these things. I understand that I am a foreigner and look different, and that people are curious about me. It is my duty to help people understand me, and my culture. And I like meeting new people."
Sookan has so much work to do. She has many job, and difficult courses. Furthermore, she also pushes herself to get the scholarship. Sometimes, when people are exhausted, it is easy for them to have the negative feelings. Just like Sookan, " Sometimes I wish I could get lost in the crowd, and just go about the business. That is why I do not really like wearing my hanbok. It makes me feel so different and so alone." Sookan does not want to be different. She wants to blend into other students. I think that might because she regards this as a kind of pressure, and the school work also keeps her away from her friends in some ways. She chooses to talk with her friend about her situation, and then continue working hard.
The main character, Sookhan feels like an outsider when she talks with her friends, Ellen and Marci. For example, when she went to caffe with Ellen, she was trying to pay the coffee for her, but Ellen said in America, they are paying by Dutch, and she didn’t understand the Dutch means. Also, when they went to shop to buy curtains and things for decorating their room, she was confused about yes or no questions. When she went to Professor Bennett’s house for baby sitting. She waited for Professor Bennett’s sitting, because it is manner in Korea. However, there is no one that can teach the differences between Korea and America. She is an outsider, because she is the only one who came from Korea, but she isn’t showing her status to the others. For example, she should be really nervous or tired of his college life, but she’ve never complained to the others or explain her circumstances. She just mentioned her problem of her money to Marci, but she felt really embarrassed. She is close with Ellen and Marci, but not as close as to say everything about her. Also, she is taking really hard course, that teachers don’t recommend to student who is new, but she is doing and when her friends asked about her classes, she just say that she have to study more, because she is poor at English. She’ve never complained about her college life’s to anyone, even mom. Therefore she is an outsider.
The protagonist, Sookan feels like a outsider because she is a student from another country, Korea, which is far away in Asia. And there's language conflict, cultural difference. Also, she is a scholar student which means she has to work in the dinning hall during her free time, instead of hanging out with her friend or relaxing in her dorm. And she has to do part time work to earn money to buy books, like baby sitting. "Through the picture window, I could see the students walking toward the candle-lit room. They all looked so elegant in their high hells and gloves. I pictured myself all dressed up, walking with them in a leisurely way, and chatting about the last mixer. But I could not daydream long, for it was time to pick up my tray to begin serving."
In the chapter, Sookan is facing a problem that a lot of people are having trouble with these days.The difference of culture makes her feel like an outsider in her college like, especially when she is the only Korean girl in the college. I think it's not just the culture problem, but also the gap between she and her friends, which requires a lot of communication and understanding to fill it. However, I think she did do a fantastic job of standing out and be active, try to do anything she can, the courage of facing the reality and do something is really precious for students that are studying overseas. Sookan is such an amazing girl who is attempting to prove her culture to the people around her, and I am proud of her. Here's a quote. "I know. But I feel that I should do these things. I understand that I am a foreigner and look different, and that people are curious about me. It is my duty to help people understand me, and my culture. And I like meeting new people. I think I would really enjoy meeting the Girl Scouts." I sighed. "It just gets so hard after a while. I keep falling further and further behind in my studies, and I'm beginning to worry that I might actually fail some of my courses. And I'm sometimes tired of this feeling that I always have to explain myself. I have to work for every little bit of acceptance and understanding. Sometimes I wish I could get lost in the crowd, and just go about my business. That's why I don't really like wearing my hanbok. It makes me feel so different and so all alone. It must be a comfort to be like everyone else. There's so much pressure when you're different."
The protagonist, Sookan, feels like an outsider because she is studying more than her friends do to get a scholarship. Her friends are relaxing, and do not get hard pressure about their scholarship, but sookan is different. Sookan is always studying hard in the library and stay for studying in the library more than her friends do. She knows she is tired enough. Her legs feel wobbly, and her arms and back ached. Sookan is keep working hard even though her friend, Ellen, is saying you need to get some rest. The quote that might support my idea is in page 45, Ellen said, "Why don't you try to leave the library a bit early tonight or wake me up tomorrow morning before you tiptoe out of the room?" This quote is supporting my idea clearly which is she always stay at the library for studying.
You make a good point, Richard. Sookan's studying does keep her isolated. This quote, though, brings up other questions. Why does Ellen want Sookan to wake her?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe protagonist, Sookan, feels like an outsider, because she is a Korean student who studies in America and she is the only Korean at the school. In every chapter, we can see her questioning herself if she has made the right the decision by studying in America and leaving her family, or even by studying a lot and most of the time not spending a lot tot time with her friends.
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter something interesting happens. Marci, one of her friends, tells her that she can say no. I believe that Marci does something really important by reminding her that she doesn't have to act like she's in Korea and that she has the chance to say no to the things that she doesn't want to do to. When Marci says that, Sookan tells her that meeting new people, working and studying are the things that she wants to do. I think that she tries to deal with her outsider status by keeping herself busy with a lot of things like working and studying. I believe that she should also spend some time with her friends.
"I know. But I feel that I should do these things. I understand that I am a foreigner and look different, and that people are curious about me. It is my duty to help people understand me, and my culture. And I like meeting new people."
Very detailed, Sera! Nice work.
DeleteSookan has so much work to do. She has many job, and difficult courses. Furthermore, she also pushes herself to get the scholarship. Sometimes, when people are exhausted, it is easy for them to have the negative feelings. Just like Sookan, " Sometimes I wish I could get lost in the crowd, and just go about the business. That is why I do not really like wearing my hanbok. It makes me feel so different and so alone." Sookan does not want to be different. She wants to blend into other students. I think that might because she regards this as a kind of pressure, and the school work also keeps her away from her friends in some ways. She chooses to talk with her friend about her situation, and then continue working hard.
ReplyDeleteI think you're absolutely right, Amanda. When people are exhausted, it is more likely that they will have negative thoughts and feelings.
DeleteThe main character, Sookhan feels like an outsider when she talks with her friends, Ellen and Marci. For example, when she went to caffe with Ellen, she was trying to pay the coffee for her, but Ellen said in America, they are paying by Dutch, and she didn’t understand the Dutch means. Also, when they went to shop to buy curtains and things for decorating their room, she was confused about yes or no questions. When she went to Professor Bennett’s house for baby sitting. She waited for Professor Bennett’s sitting, because it is manner in Korea. However, there is no one that can teach the differences between Korea and America. She is an outsider, because she is the only one who came from Korea, but she isn’t showing her status to the others. For example, she should be really nervous or tired of his college life, but she’ve never complained to the others or explain her circumstances. She just mentioned her problem of her money to Marci, but she felt really embarrassed. She is close with Ellen and Marci, but not as close as to say everything about her. Also, she is taking really hard course, that teachers don’t recommend to student who is new, but she is doing and when her friends asked about her classes, she just say that she have to study more, because she is poor at English. She’ve never complained about her college life’s to anyone, even mom. Therefore she is an outsider.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteVery detailed, Peter. What about a quote?
DeleteThe protagonist, Sookan feels like a outsider because she is a student from another country, Korea, which is far away in Asia. And there's language conflict, cultural difference. Also, she is a scholar student which means she has to work in the dinning hall during her free time, instead of hanging out with her friend or relaxing in her dorm. And she has to do part time work to earn money to buy books, like baby sitting.
ReplyDelete"Through the picture window, I could see the students walking toward the candle-lit room. They all looked so elegant in their high hells and gloves. I pictured myself all dressed up, walking with them in a leisurely way, and chatting about the last mixer. But I could not daydream long, for it was time to pick up my tray to begin serving."
This is an excellent quote, Bella.
DeleteIn the chapter, Sookan is facing a problem that a lot of people are having trouble with these days.The difference of culture makes her feel like an outsider in her college like, especially when she is the only Korean girl in the college. I think it's not just the culture problem, but also the gap between she and her friends, which requires a lot of communication and understanding to fill it. However, I think she did do a fantastic job of standing out and be active, try to do anything she can, the courage of facing the reality and do something is really precious for students that are studying overseas. Sookan is such an amazing girl who is attempting to prove her culture to the people around her, and I am proud of her.
ReplyDeleteHere's a quote.
"I know. But I feel that I should do these things. I understand that I am a foreigner and look different, and that people are curious about me. It is my duty to help people understand me, and my culture. And I like meeting new people. I think I would really enjoy meeting the Girl Scouts." I sighed. "It just gets so hard after a while. I keep falling further and further behind in my studies, and I'm beginning to worry that I might actually fail some of my courses. And I'm sometimes tired of this feeling that I always have to explain myself. I have to work for every little bit of acceptance and understanding. Sometimes I wish I could get lost in the crowd, and just go about my business. That's why I don't really like wearing my hanbok. It makes me feel so different and so all alone. It must be a comfort to be like everyone else. There's so much pressure when you're different."
This is a good quote, Ben.
DeleteThe protagonist, Sookan, feels like an outsider because she is studying more than her friends do to get a scholarship. Her friends are relaxing, and do not get hard pressure about their scholarship, but sookan is different. Sookan is always studying hard in the library and stay for studying in the library more than her friends do. She knows she is tired enough. Her legs feel wobbly, and her arms and back ached. Sookan is keep working hard even though her friend, Ellen, is saying you need to get some rest. The quote that might support my idea is in page 45, Ellen said, "Why don't you try to leave the library a bit early tonight or wake me up tomorrow morning before you tiptoe out of the room?" This quote is supporting my idea clearly which is she always stay at the library for studying.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, Richard. Sookan's studying does keep her isolated. This quote, though, brings up other questions. Why does Ellen want Sookan to wake her?
ReplyDelete