The classes I had to take in my freshman through sophomore year prepared me for college because I realized the amount of bullshit needs to be done in life in order to get somewhere. I felt that I was actually doing something useful in junior and senior year when I had to learn time management and the importance of studying. In my junior year I took BIO125 and BIO150. Since Bio wasn't my strongest subject I really had to work har in order to receive A's in the classes. I also had Ms. Moore who gave a demanding amount of coursework at a college level. She was a teacher who believed that we shouldn't be babied and taught me how to write research papers and ow to analyze better than any English teacher I have had since then. By the end of this year I will also not need a math class, which is one less thing to worry about as I move on to university.
Some of the obstacles I am facing, and still facing (since finals aren't over) is math. It's difficult to be the only person in my Calc 2 class because I feel like there isn't anyone I can look to for help. I wish I had a familiar face to study together with because teaching myself is a pretty big challenge. Another thing that is hard is trying to overcome "senioritis". Because of that I haven't been getting in the 90s range in my high school classes this marking period. Some moments of great success for me is getting into Calc 2. Another thing is that I gained the ability to manage my time better. Instead of going home and going on the internet I have been able to prevent that by making others change my password and blocking it on my laptop until finals week. I also feel that from freshman through junior I felt more suppressed. I felt that my voice didn't matter unless it was for presenting in front of a class but rather this year I find the importance in vocation.
Techniques such as showing and not telling was one of the main things I brought with me when writing. I feel that I could incorporate that in nor only my fiction writing but in my research papers as well. It has also given me the ability to show my creativity more which be helpful in my future design projects. This year I learned that there was no need to be shy about my work or exhibiting feelings in my writing. I also learned that there was nothing to be afraid of when putting myself into the work because nobody knows the connection I have to a character other than myself.
The first semester I took ASTRO101 and MATH150 and now I am taking CHEM100 and MATH155. I honestly haven't liked any of classes. I equally hate them all, but I need to get these prerequisites over with to start doing things that I love so I'll just suck it up, study, and pass. I didn't enjoy them because I dislike science with a passion. I only take it because I need to and math is boring and I always end up falling asleep in classes. I do not care about the volumes of irregular shapes and integrals of numbers and letters.
I feel that I need to stop taking sleep for granted. When I finish work early I should take it as a sign to sleep early as well. But sometimes I end up sleeping and hour because I'm watching various animes, or catching up. Maybe I could quit these shows but or just postpone these anime shows to vacation so that I won't lose much sleep.
I mainly studied in the Hunter Library on the 4th floor. If I study in quiet places I usually fall asleep so I need people laughing and conversing or "studying" loudly in order to keep my awake from my boring subjects.I used the Thomas Hunter free printing service as a recourse as well as the Dolciani/ Math center. Whenever I have trouble with a topic I would go bring my WebAssigns (online math coursework) and make the tutors walk me through the problems.
Being part of this early college program is self advocacy. I have also learned that I have a lot coming in these next 5 years and I need to stick my life in the library in order to succeed. I need to surround myself with positive and successful people as well so that I can feel more motivated to do work.
I will be going to University of South Florida this fall and my personal goals are to become and architect. In 5 years I see myself with a master degree in Architecture. In 10 years I see myself with a PHD possibly married. In 20 years I see myself out of the country married, and with kids.
Some advice I have for future MHSHS students I advise that they stay away from the "hot spots" such as the purple couches and terrace. It's good to unwind once in a while but they should know that once somebody is sitting there they don't want to get up.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Reflection 3
I don't feel that at this point I have anything more to work on. Maybe I could have included the music more in my story but seeing that it was short story it was hard for me to find any parts that I could mention it without breaking the rhythm of my story. As a writer I learned that peer editing is very important. It's important to have many people read your work because everyone can always find a piece missing that could make your writing better. I also learned that a lot goes behind writing a story and one draft is never sufficient.
The theme of my story is delusion. The protagonist feels like a single woman is sufficient to fill the void of all the things he gave up. He also thinks that not bettering himself is the best way to go, and he starts to beat himself up while Penny is moving on. A technique I used to show this is internal conflict. Because at the end he refuses to move on and wallows in self pity as he reads the newspaper article.
The theme of my story is delusion. The protagonist feels like a single woman is sufficient to fill the void of all the things he gave up. He also thinks that not bettering himself is the best way to go, and he starts to beat himself up while Penny is moving on. A technique I used to show this is internal conflict. Because at the end he refuses to move on and wallows in self pity as he reads the newspaper article.
Final Draft - Guitar Strings
Aiden wakes up slowly, the fog in his brain inhibiting him from opening his eyes completely. There’s sun shining in through his window, forcing him to blink multiple times before keeping his eyes open. His mouth is acrid, dry, and stale. He can smell cigarettes from last night lingering on his breath. He smells of scotch and loneliness. He wonders if anyone else can smell the repugnant aroma of selfishness and early mornings spent alone with empty bottles, wafting from him.
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you. He is in his mid-30s and instead of being at the peak of success like he planned he is wallowing around in his self-pity.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside of his suburban home.
There are kids across the street playing with a decrepit can. It rattles along the ground as their tiny feet find contact with it. Down the street is an elderly lady pinning out sheets on her clothesline. It sags as she weighs it down with drenched bed linens. He remembers how when he was younger there was an man around his age that always smelled of cheap liquor and walked around with mean veneer, and then he pondered on whether he turned into that bitter old man that no one ever wanted to approach. He decided against it.
He picks of the newspaper and suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. “I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!” His memory immediately sought out the records of events from 16 years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had gone from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually drivel about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big thing to ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
“Allright, but at least let me play this one song for the event.” She shook her head angrily and refused to let him. But he convinced her that after tonight all of it was going to be over. He continued to sing and strum his guitar as he spoke the lyrics that were dedicated to her. Her solemn features soon brightened up. After that night he knew just her existence made me feel whole.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom as he tried to secretly make a song. She was furious of his negligence to quit music that she started to question him.
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and he walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“No. You were going to be playing in the streets. Because of me, you are on your last year of medical school. I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!” He tried to calm myself by sitting back down. What was the point of having a guitar if one isn’t even going to play it? If one refuses to strum it, and get to know it well then how can one call themselves a musician; a rock star. How could you one consider this a relationship? He was the guitar and she played him whenever she needed him most. He built up some courage through the adrenaline she shot into him and came to the conclusion that she was neglecting his potential.
“Fuck off, bitch!” he yelled.
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and took her months to come back. “Why are you here?” Aiden asked. A man wearing a black Armani suit, contrasted nicely with a white shirt and a light blue tie, neatly parted hair. A glitzy Rolex on the wrist, shoes so neatly polished that one could almost see their reflection in them. The elegant yet bold sunglasses almost manage to hide the blue eyes that have so many stories buried deep in them, walks in to his living room.
“I wanted you to meet someone. He is a part of a multibillion dollar company headquarters in New York City.” Outside his window he spotted his luxurious yet fast black Maserati GT and his heart sunk because of his anxiety for answers. The man began to talk and money, the power, most of all that intellect really shone through his words.
“Are you here to get back with me? I promise I’ll change.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have come” said the stranger.
“I know things ended badly but…” she handed him a letter and walked out of the house.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He starts to read the newspaper article and sees her with the strange man and a smile that he thought only he had ever given to her. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Relection 2
As I have worked through my pieces I had a problem with credibility. I wasn't sure how to incorporate the age and race. I couldn't include it without ruining the flow of the story. Since credibility has to be in the beginning of the story it was even harder for me. Besides that my group mates made me aware of the many holes in my story. Like how I didn't really fully characterize Penny and didn't really mention the stranger that Penny leaves with in the car. As a writer I have learned that sometimes I think that my writing is better than it actually is and I am neglectful to change. But my peers were really helpful and through workshop it was easier for them to point out my flaws since they didn't write it themselves.
The theme that wound up turning up in my piece is love and loss. I wrote about a middle aged man who turned out to be a hopeless romantic. I used techniques such as flashback and authorial interpretation to showcase how is hurt and was left destroyed by a selfish woman. The piece is slowly getting to to where I want it to be it is still missing some things. I would like to add more symbolism and make more use of his music. All I mentioned was that he was in a band but I could use it to signify his relationship or him as a character.
The theme that wound up turning up in my piece is love and loss. I wrote about a middle aged man who turned out to be a hopeless romantic. I used techniques such as flashback and authorial interpretation to showcase how is hurt and was left destroyed by a selfish woman. The piece is slowly getting to to where I want it to be it is still missing some things. I would like to add more symbolism and make more use of his music. All I mentioned was that he was in a band but I could use it to signify his relationship or him as a character.
Short Story Draft 4
Aiden wakes up slowly, the fog in his brain inhibiting him from opening his eyes completely. There’s sun shining in through his window, forcing him to blink multiple times before keeping his eyes open. His mouth is acrid, dry, and stale. He can smell cigarettes from last night lingering on his breath. He smells of scotch and loneliness. He wonders if anyone else can smell the repugnant aroma of selfishness and early mornings spent alone with empty bottles, wafting from him.
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you. He is in his mid-30s and instead of being at the peak of success like he planned he is wallowing around in his self-pity.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside of his suburban home.
There are kids across the street playing with a decrepit can. It rattles along the ground as their tiny feet find contact with it. Down the street is an elderly lady pinning out sheets on her clothesline. It sags as she weighs it down with drenched bed linens. He remembers how when he was younger there was an man around his age that always smelled of cheap liquor and walked around with mean veneer, and then he pondered on whether he turned into that bitter old man that no one ever wanted to approach. He decided against it.
He picks of the newspaper and suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. “I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!” His memory immediately sought out the records of events from 16 years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had gone from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually drivel about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big thing to ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and he walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and took her months to come back. “Why are you here?” Aiden asked. A man wearing a black Armani suit, contrasted nicely with a white shirt and a light blue tie, neatly parted hair. A glitzy Rolex on the wrist, shoes so neatly polished that one could almost see their reflection in them. The elegant yet bold sunglasses almost manage to hide the blue eyes that have so many stories buried deep in them, walks in to his living room.
“I wanted you to meet someone. He is a part of a multibillion dollar company headquarters in New York City.” Outside his window he spotted his luxurious yet fast black Maserati GT and his heart sunk because of his anxiety for answers. The man began to talk and money, the power, most of all that intellect really shone through his words.
“Are you here to get back with me? I promise I’ll change.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have come” said the stranger.
“I know things ended badly but…” she handed him a letter and walked out of the house.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He starts to read the newspaper article and sees her with the strange man and a smile that he thought only he had ever given to her. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you. He is in his mid-30s and instead of being at the peak of success like he planned he is wallowing around in his self-pity.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside of his suburban home.
There are kids across the street playing with a decrepit can. It rattles along the ground as their tiny feet find contact with it. Down the street is an elderly lady pinning out sheets on her clothesline. It sags as she weighs it down with drenched bed linens. He remembers how when he was younger there was an man around his age that always smelled of cheap liquor and walked around with mean veneer, and then he pondered on whether he turned into that bitter old man that no one ever wanted to approach. He decided against it.
He picks of the newspaper and suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. “I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!” His memory immediately sought out the records of events from 16 years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had gone from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually drivel about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big thing to ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and he walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and took her months to come back. “Why are you here?” Aiden asked. A man wearing a black Armani suit, contrasted nicely with a white shirt and a light blue tie, neatly parted hair. A glitzy Rolex on the wrist, shoes so neatly polished that one could almost see their reflection in them. The elegant yet bold sunglasses almost manage to hide the blue eyes that have so many stories buried deep in them, walks in to his living room.
“I wanted you to meet someone. He is a part of a multibillion dollar company headquarters in New York City.” Outside his window he spotted his luxurious yet fast black Maserati GT and his heart sunk because of his anxiety for answers. The man began to talk and money, the power, most of all that intellect really shone through his words.
“Are you here to get back with me? I promise I’ll change.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have come” said the stranger.
“I know things ended badly but…” she handed him a letter and walked out of the house.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He starts to read the newspaper article and sees her with the strange man and a smile that he thought only he had ever given to her. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
Short Story Draft 3
Aiden wakes up slowly, the fog in his brain inhibiting him from opening his eyes completely. There’s sun shining in through his window, forcing him to blink multiple times before keeping his eyes open. His mouth is acrid, dry, and stale. He can smell cigarettes from last night lingering on his breath. He smells of scotch and loneliness. He wonders if anyone else can smell the repugnant aroma of selfishness and early mornings spent alone with empty bottles, wafting from him.
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you. He is in his mid-30s and instead of being at the peak of success like he planned he is wallowing around in his self-pity.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside of his suburban home.
There are kids across the street playing with a decrepit can. It rattles along the ground as their tiny feet find contact with it. Down the street is an elderly lady pinning out sheets on her clothesline. It sags as she weighs it down with drenched bed linens. He remembers how when he was younger there was an man around his age that always smelled of cheap liquor and walked around with mean veneer, and then he pondered on whether he turned into that bitter old man that no one ever wanted to approach. He decided against it.
He picks of the newspaper and suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. “I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!” His memory immediately sought out the records of events from 16 years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had gone from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually drivel about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you. He is in his mid-30s and instead of being at the peak of success like he planned he is wallowing around in his self-pity.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside of his suburban home.
There are kids across the street playing with a decrepit can. It rattles along the ground as their tiny feet find contact with it. Down the street is an elderly lady pinning out sheets on her clothesline. It sags as she weighs it down with drenched bed linens. He remembers how when he was younger there was an man around his age that always smelled of cheap liquor and walked around with mean veneer, and then he pondered on whether he turned into that bitter old man that no one ever wanted to approach. He decided against it.
He picks of the newspaper and suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. “I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!” His memory immediately sought out the records of events from 16 years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had gone from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually drivel about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big thing to ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and he walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and took her months to come back. “Why are you here?” Aiden asked. A man wearing a black Armani suit, contrasted nicely with a white shirt and a light blue tie, neatly parted hair. A glitzy Rolex on the wrist, shoes so neatly polished that one could almost see their reflection in them. The elegant yet bold sunglasses almost manage to hide the blue eyes that have so many stories buried deep in them, walks in to his living room.
“Are you here to get back with me? I promise I’ll change.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have come” said the stranger.
“I know things ended badly but…” she handed him a letter and walked out of the house.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He starts to read the newspaper article and sees her with the strange man and a smile that he thought only he had ever given to her. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big thing to ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and he walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and took her months to come back. “Why are you here?” Aiden asked. A man wearing a black Armani suit, contrasted nicely with a white shirt and a light blue tie, neatly parted hair. A glitzy Rolex on the wrist, shoes so neatly polished that one could almost see their reflection in them. The elegant yet bold sunglasses almost manage to hide the blue eyes that have so many stories buried deep in them, walks in to his living room.
“Are you here to get back with me? I promise I’ll change.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have come” said the stranger.
“I know things ended badly but…” she handed him a letter and walked out of the house.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He starts to read the newspaper article and sees her with the strange man and a smile that he thought only he had ever given to her. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
Reflection 1
I struggled with coming up with a concept. I was never too find of writing about love but I decided to give it a shot. It was also hard for me to write in the mindset of a straight middle aged man but I decided to challenge myself because I didn't not feel like writing about a girl my age without showcasing my personality in her. In order to overcome my issues I used the Stanislavski method, personal experience, and television shows I have watched such as "The Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother." As a writer I have learned that a lot goes into writing and every first draft needs a lot of work.
One of the themes that wound up emerging in my story is hope and success. The girlfriend makes Aiden feel like shes worth more than world which turns him into a failure. A technique I used was dialogue to show how the girlfriend is trying to turn him into something that he isn't by harassing him and taking away the things that he holds dear to his heart. My piece still isn't how I would like it to be I think I still need to mention things about the stranger who is with Penny at the end. Besides that I think I just need to ix a few grammatical errors.
Short Story Draft 2
He wakes up slowly, the fog in his brain inhibiting him from opening his eyes completely. There’s sun shining in through his window, forcing him to blink multiple times before keeping his eyes. His mouth is acrid, dry, and stale. He can smell cigarettes from last night lingering on his breath. He smells of scotch and loneliness. He wonders if anyone else can smell the repugnant aroma of selfishness and early mornings spent alone with empty bottles, wafting from him.
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his skinny, lanky frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside.
There are kids across the street playing with a decrepit can. It rattles along the ground as their tiny feet find contact with it. Down the street is an elderly lady pinning out sheets on her clothesline. It sags as she weighs it down with drenched bed linens. Then suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. His memory immediately sought out the records of events from four years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had went from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort was there she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually bull shit about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. That stung and Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and she never looked back.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Short Story Draft 1
Rising from his soiled sheets, he decides not to change his dingy, once white underwear, and throws on a pair of jeans that have been his only source of pants for quite some time now. He searches for a shirt, but it takes too much concentration, and decides against it. He looks down at his sunken, yet protruding belly riding atop his pants. His skinny, lanky frame has been awarded the difficult task of carrying his ever growing beer gut. If his skinny, lanky frame could talk to him, he’s sure it would say fuck you.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside.
Then suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. His memory immediately sought out the records of events from four years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had went from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort was there she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually bull shit about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. That stung and Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and she never looked back.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
He goes to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find nothing besides beer and moldy bread. He opens a can. The refreshing pop that follows from the opening of the tab constitutes as his shower for the day. He wonders what demons he’ll have to face today, and quickly downs his beer in hopes of drowning them before they can set in. He grabs a second beer from the foul fridge and steps outside.
Then suddenly Penny Brooke’s voice flows through the air of his house. He turns on the radio off and sits on his couch, where he has spent every day for the past three weeks. He knows there’s nothing here for him, yet he cannot bring himself to leave. He imagines her walking up to their door step, and laying her bags down on the stoop before she gently knocks on their door. He imagines her returning, realizing her mistake in leaving him, realizing that he is worth loving after all.
Her words coursed through Aidan’s mind like a film loop. His memory immediately sought out the records of events from four years ago. Aidan only had eyes for her. They were both only seventeen at the time but Aidan felt as though she meant the whole world to him in that moment.
Fast forward to three months later and Aidan had went from ripped jeans to polished pant suits. His hair was no longer spikey and even his face to some extent changed just to appease her. Meanwhile through all his effort was there she was telling him that she had found somebody knew. She fed him the usually bull shit about how she never meant to hurt him, how she wishes things could be different but ultimately, how she’d found somebody new. That stung and Aidan still felt it twinge in his ribcage.
But after a bout with her partner she began to call him more often, and invite him to events. Once he attended an art gallery and he stared deep into her light golden eyes, trying to read her, as if he knew she had some hidden agenda. He couldn’t find anything; she was too difficult to read. He’d have to get her to talk.
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?” she asked back, acting all innocent. Aidan knew better than to fall for that again.
“After all this time, why choose now to get back together?”
“I’m done fooling around. I had something good with you and I threw it away for something that wasn’t any good. I just want to be with you again.”
Aidan’s eyes narrowed when she finished. He still knew there was more to this than she was letting on.
“What do you want from me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Penny, I changed completely for you last time. What do you want this time?” Aidan responded as expressionless as he could. He wasn’t a serious man by nature and he couldn’t exactly act it well either, but he did his best.
“Well… I know it’s a big ask but… would you quit the band? Just for me.” She gave it her best pout and puppy-dog eyes, both framed by her chestnut hair. Aidan glared back. This was unbelievable. Music was all he knew. The band was just starting to get recognized and now she was asking him to quit. There was nothing more important to Aidan than his family and the band but then he thought back to all their moments and felt that she towered over all of the things he loved.
Many late nights cuddling, and watching her try on clothes were ways to make him feel unregretful of leaving it all behind. Even the smallest things like the way she would tippy toe to reach things at high lengths made him feels lucky to be alive. But gradually things he found cute like the rolling of her eyes, or cute whining voice and her smack in the backs made him want to escape. One day she cornered him in their bedroom
“When do you plan on graduating? Wasn’t last year your last year?”
“Just give me some time,” and walked passed her into the hallway.
“Don’t ignore me. I didn’t commit myself to a failure.”
“Maybe if I didn’t quit the band I wouldn’t even have to be in school.”
“I am the best thing that’s ever happened to you!”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
Penny proceeds to the door and slammed it on her way outside and she never looked back.
In truth, he knows he’s a broken old man. He left his dreams behind, left himself behind, and in turn, left her behind. He deserves nothing besides the loneliness that comes from six packs and cheap bottles of scotch. But he can’t stop himself from seeing her pink dress getting caught on the tree in their driveway, as she walked out of his life and into a strange car with a strange man. He knows there’s nothing here for him, but he cannot bring himself to leave the house which houses all their memories. Its walls know all the love he’s ever known, and he will stay until they give it back.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Semester 2! Journal 7
Your warm eyes reminded me of the time I first saw you. The way you cheered up behind the cage was reminiscent to the way your eyes gleamed when I came back from work. You were laying on the floor and I approached you so that you could kiss my face. Then you stood up and we both knew we should go take a nice walk. Everyone stopped to look at you in awe and kept stopping me so that the can put their hands through your hair. Out of frustration I blew my hair past my face and I said as calmly as I could "Excuse me, we're in a rush," to the lady that you seemed smitten with.
Then you started running fast and I tried to catch up to you. Sometimes I wish you could act more civilized. But then you stopped on the beach and we saw the beautiful sun as it rose in the distance. Your insistence to leave our spot made me realize that you weren't here for the plethora of colors that illuminated the sky. But you wanted to tell me that you got someone pregnant. I stood back in inexplicable fear as you shoved me to the little puppy sucking on it's mother's tit. Now there's a new member in the family.
Then you started running fast and I tried to catch up to you. Sometimes I wish you could act more civilized. But then you stopped on the beach and we saw the beautiful sun as it rose in the distance. Your insistence to leave our spot made me realize that you weren't here for the plethora of colors that illuminated the sky. But you wanted to tell me that you got someone pregnant. I stood back in inexplicable fear as you shoved me to the little puppy sucking on it's mother's tit. Now there's a new member in the family.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Semester 2! Reflection 5
The story I read was New Poem. The protagonist of the story is a cleaning lady at the white house. She wants to be more surrounded by different cultures rather than only one that she finds to be plain. She states "Why does the white house have to be so white?"
The antagonist would have to be the government. They don't allow free verse, and don't read poems that relate to culture like the workings of Langston Hughes. The government is trying to eliminate the freedom of minorities to speak out
The theme of this story is culture and how it is important to be knowledgeable about where one is from and allow it to spread through their pride. A technique used to show this theme would have to be Familiar vs. Unfamiliar place. The used a normal place such as the white house and made it seem as if she is in an another planet. By doing so she was able to show the differences between her tastes and other cultures. Another technique was allusion. The whole thing is an opinion about the Bush administration and how he maltreated those that weren't like him, and tried to censor their culture out of the country, or out of his sight.
The author's tone is revolutionary. She seems to want to create change throughout the whole story and complains about the workplace and how it is a catalyst for the fading of her identification. Some techniques to exemplify the tone are indirect dialogue and setting. With indirect dialogue the reader was able to tap into the protagonist's mind. Everything in her head was a critique of the Bush administration. Setting was used to revel the character's emotions, set the place, and time period. By making the story take place during a frustrating period for all minorites she was able to carry the tone throughout.
The crises action happens close to the end when the protagonist finds more comfort in that things will get better. The optimism showed that the character had the power at the moment and will share the things that have been silenced by the "poor and powerless." The protagonist has the ability to be more confident. She has been denied the write to share her poems and refuses to listen tot he order. She also comes to terms that they are the ones that are losing for not listening to it. In the beginning all she did was complain but now she is more logical and sneaky in her thinking.
My favorite part is when the author wrote "Why does the white house have to be so white?" Despite being humorous the quote has a lot of meaning behind it. It shows different cultures are still rarely accepted here in the United States and this country has a lot of work to do.
The antagonist would have to be the government. They don't allow free verse, and don't read poems that relate to culture like the workings of Langston Hughes. The government is trying to eliminate the freedom of minorities to speak out
The theme of this story is culture and how it is important to be knowledgeable about where one is from and allow it to spread through their pride. A technique used to show this theme would have to be Familiar vs. Unfamiliar place. The used a normal place such as the white house and made it seem as if she is in an another planet. By doing so she was able to show the differences between her tastes and other cultures. Another technique was allusion. The whole thing is an opinion about the Bush administration and how he maltreated those that weren't like him, and tried to censor their culture out of the country, or out of his sight.
The author's tone is revolutionary. She seems to want to create change throughout the whole story and complains about the workplace and how it is a catalyst for the fading of her identification. Some techniques to exemplify the tone are indirect dialogue and setting. With indirect dialogue the reader was able to tap into the protagonist's mind. Everything in her head was a critique of the Bush administration. Setting was used to revel the character's emotions, set the place, and time period. By making the story take place during a frustrating period for all minorites she was able to carry the tone throughout.
The crises action happens close to the end when the protagonist finds more comfort in that things will get better. The optimism showed that the character had the power at the moment and will share the things that have been silenced by the "poor and powerless." The protagonist has the ability to be more confident. She has been denied the write to share her poems and refuses to listen tot he order. She also comes to terms that they are the ones that are losing for not listening to it. In the beginning all she did was complain but now she is more logical and sneaky in her thinking.
My favorite part is when the author wrote "Why does the white house have to be so white?" Despite being humorous the quote has a lot of meaning behind it. It shows different cultures are still rarely accepted here in the United States and this country has a lot of work to do.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Semester 2! - Journal 6
It was the first semester of college. I was taking my first science class and encountered a blond girl named Deisha. All of a sudden we began to study together as we became close friends. She seemed very friendly and we were very compatible. Since we had a morning class together she would often tag along with me to get some coffee. This had become a daily routine until my cousin arrived from Nevada. One day she asked me if she could come to my house to bond. However, I was too naive to say no. She came over and I noticed she brought a bag to sleepover. This friendship started becoming creepy as my birthday was arriving. She decided to invite herself by saying, "I'm coming." However, it was family night and I was not willing to bring an outsider. Therefore, I lied saying that plans got canceled. I started avoiding her by starting to hang out with a boy named Freddie. She began to get annoyed and showed be attitude, by throwing fits. My boyfriend and I had complications but when we did get back together, she was irritated. She started coming out her bubble by getting rid of all my friends. That's when I knew I had enough.
Semester 2! Reflection 4
The short story in which I am writing about is called Exile by Julia Alvarez. The protagonist is the daughter. She doesn't have a name but her desires are clear throughout the story. She wants her life to be back to the way it was before the Dominican dictator Trujillo was in power. And she didn't want to go to the United States of America. The daughter is very clueless because she didn't realize the changes going on around her. But she is also fortunate for having escaped death from Trujillo and arriving in a country that was considered good in it's time.
The antagonist of the story would have to be her father and Trujillo. The father is the one who forces his daughter to leave behind the occupied country. While, Trujillo is the reason that they are leaving. The conflict that the author is facing is fear of the outcome of moving to the United States. Trujillo is denying her happiness, and security in her own home.
The theme of this story is freedom. Being the ability to choose one's fate is something that the characters struggle with throughtout the story. The technique used to show this is internal thinking. Using internal thinking let's the reader tap into the mind of the protagonist and recognize her fears, doubts, and ignorance towards what is happening.
The tone of the author is suspenseful. The author uses flashback to illuminate the tone that she is going for. When she refers to her brother's whispers and the packing of the bags you start to wonder what all the rushing is for. She also uses a cliffhanger at the end so that the reader is unaware of the family's future. Julia Alvarez also uses ethos to inspire pity or sorrow towards a character.
The crises action of the story is when the family finally arrives to America because the protagonist finally escaped death but now she needs to learn how to survive in a new environment. In the end she isn't as clueless as how she started out but she still doesn't have her home and now she needs to create a new one. But she still has her family with her as support. She realizes that things in life aren't easy and that they are about to get harder.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how the author was able to tap into the reader's mind and let you know how the protagonist is feeling. She would also use their vernacular which was helpful in relating to the main character. She also made the reader scared when she wrote "at a curfew-darkened Ciudad Trujillo, speaking in worried whispers to your brothers. Which car to take? Who’d be willing to drive it? What explanation to give should we be discovered . . ." Overall this short story was amazing.
The antagonist of the story would have to be her father and Trujillo. The father is the one who forces his daughter to leave behind the occupied country. While, Trujillo is the reason that they are leaving. The conflict that the author is facing is fear of the outcome of moving to the United States. Trujillo is denying her happiness, and security in her own home.
The theme of this story is freedom. Being the ability to choose one's fate is something that the characters struggle with throughtout the story. The technique used to show this is internal thinking. Using internal thinking let's the reader tap into the mind of the protagonist and recognize her fears, doubts, and ignorance towards what is happening.
The tone of the author is suspenseful. The author uses flashback to illuminate the tone that she is going for. When she refers to her brother's whispers and the packing of the bags you start to wonder what all the rushing is for. She also uses a cliffhanger at the end so that the reader is unaware of the family's future. Julia Alvarez also uses ethos to inspire pity or sorrow towards a character.
The crises action of the story is when the family finally arrives to America because the protagonist finally escaped death but now she needs to learn how to survive in a new environment. In the end she isn't as clueless as how she started out but she still doesn't have her home and now she needs to create a new one. But she still has her family with her as support. She realizes that things in life aren't easy and that they are about to get harder.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how the author was able to tap into the reader's mind and let you know how the protagonist is feeling. She would also use their vernacular which was helpful in relating to the main character. She also made the reader scared when she wrote "at a curfew-darkened Ciudad Trujillo, speaking in worried whispers to your brothers. Which car to take? Who’d be willing to drive it? What explanation to give should we be discovered . . ." Overall this short story was amazing.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Semester 2! Reflection 3
This short story is a prequel to the short story "Sewing and Singing, The beginning is everything." and it's called "Tia Lola came to visit." This time the protagonist is different. Instead of it being Tia Lola it is now Miguel. He wants to have a normal family again, and to gain friends. He wants the life he had before he moved to Vermont and his parents got divorced. This character is very sensitive towards his mother and it seems like he is always trying to avoid his mother's tears.
The antagonist is himself because he is incapable of adapting to the new environment and being himself around people who are unfamiliar with Latinos. He tries to act more American which leaves him unhappy. Because of his negativity he is unwilling to appreciate his roots and conform to his surroundings.
The antagonist is himself because he is incapable of adapting to the new environment and being himself around people who are unfamiliar with Latinos. He tries to act more American which leaves him unhappy. Because of his negativity he is unwilling to appreciate his roots and conform to his surroundings.
The theme of this story is family and love. Throughout the story the use of characterization gives the reader the ability to comprehend the message of the story. The way he shows the importance of family through Miguel's actions show the theme clearly. Miguel likes to think on his toes and always tries to find way to avoid his mother from crying. He is also always wishing for his father to come back. Internal thought is another good technique used to figure out his sentiments towards the separation of this parents. Another theme is coming of age which is used to show how Miguel is trying to develop his own identity and individuality. The author uses hyperbole to exaggerate the situations in which Miguel is put in. She is always creating scenes that have fighting involved in order to make the scene develop Miguel's character.
The author's tone throughout the story is solemn. Every event is made to seem sad and like Miguel has no way into making his life better. The author uses symbolism in order to convey this tone. She uses the blue bowl as a way to create conflict in the household because that's where the mother and father ate their wedding cake from. The author also uses the technique of descriptive language and the five senses in order to show the readers how the mood in the story is and how one should feel as they are reading.
The crises action of the story is when Miguel and his sister found their aunt in the airport using their Spanish skills. At that moment he realizes that it is important to be in touch with his culture. He also sees the benefits in being bilingual and without the little Spanish that he knew his aunt would have been stranded in the United States. In the end the protagonist doesn't get the perfect family that he's always asked for but he learned to be happy with what he has. He also started to care less of what others thought of him and realized that he must embrace his heritage.
What I enjoyed most about this story is when Miguel had to speak on the loud speaker. At that point he realized that being fluent in both languages is very important. On the loud speaker all he could manage to say was "Tia Lola. Te quiero." Which means Aunt Lola, I love you.
Semester 2! Journal 5
The husband and wife were unpacking the boxes into the house that they just moved into. It had 3 bedrooms and a front porch. A typical house for a family. The husband caught his wife staring into space and asked, "What're you looking at?"
"These two shoes," said the wife.
"Why?"
"The dirty shoe is like the time during our nine months, and the clean one shoes are like the beginning of our future."
"Now we can put on the clean shoes and tie on the shoelaces."
"Agreed. So no more dirty shoes?"
"We can never assume that."
"But do you promise that even though the shoes get dirty they will remain tied and secured?"
"And they will never fall apart."
"We'll take care of it together."
The couple then unpacked the remaining things and set the plant on the windowsill. "Look the flower has bloomed!" The wife exclaimed.
Subtext:
Event: Birth of a child
Object: Shoe
"These two shoes," said the wife.
"Why?"
"The dirty shoe is like the time during our nine months, and the clean one shoes are like the beginning of our future."
"Now we can put on the clean shoes and tie on the shoelaces."
"Agreed. So no more dirty shoes?"
"We can never assume that."
"But do you promise that even though the shoes get dirty they will remain tied and secured?"
"And they will never fall apart."
"We'll take care of it together."
The couple then unpacked the remaining things and set the plant on the windowsill. "Look the flower has bloomed!" The wife exclaimed.
Subtext:
Event: Birth of a child
Object: Shoe
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Semester 2! Reflection 2
In the short story, "Sewing and Singing, The beginning is everything." the protagonist is Tia Lola. She desires to have something to do while shes home alone in Vermont. Ever so often she leaves the Dominican Republic and stays over her sister's house, and can't even watch television because she doesn't understand English and can't interact with all the white people in the area. The protagonist is very shy, and reserved when shes she's not with the family. The moment that she has a chance to do something in her spare time she plans to cower out, but in the end she able to converse with the public.
The antagonist is herself. She is too afraid to do daring things, and to just jump right in the action. This is stopping her from being happy and making connections with people. Instead of a vacation shes making it a hassle. When she is offered a job to teach English she feels like denying it because shes afraid to try new things. The theme of the story is culture, and family ties. Tia Lola is not accustomed to how people interact in Virginia because she's more used to her Dominican culture. Her nephew Miguel also get's bullied for his last name which is Guzman. They make fun of him by calling him "Goose man". Miguel also doesn't want his Aunt to teach in the school because he's afraid of being made fun of for having a "wacky aunt". The cultural differences are being shown throughout the story through the use of dialogue and flashback. Sometimes Tia Lola would thin back to all the fun she would have in Dominican Republic then go to the present. In the present, she would be staring into space and flipping through channels. The author uses dialogue as well to signify culture because sometimes the nephews would speak in Spanglish. The aunt also doesn't understand English too well which made her accidentally agree to becoming a Spanish teacher. Dialogue is also used to show family ties because the family has their own way of speaking, and they are always encouraging each other to go for things.
The author's tone throughout the story is reflective. It illustrates the characters innermost thoughts and emotions while trying to portray a message. Through the use of dialogue and the character's physical actions it easy to characterize everyone. Despite the fact that it is difficult to teach in a country that one is not used to it best to try even if there is a chance of failure. The character's also follow the saying "Cozer y cantar, todo es empezar" which means "Sewing and singing, the beginning is everything." This saying tries to say that starting something is the already most of the job, and it's best to try your best then to fail by not doing anything. If Tia Lola wants some excitement she should create it, and approach opportunities such as teaching and meeting new people. It seems like Tia Lola doesn't want anything hard but for Dominican Republic to come to her.
The crises action of this story is when Lolita begins teaching. She finally achieves in getting the entertainment that she needs. She feels like she has adapted more. She may not feel necessarily American but she has been able to combine the two cultures in order to make it her own. She realizes that one cannot expect things to change if they're not willing to put their best foot forward.
The parts I enjoyed most about the story was he way that the family spoke. It actually pretty humorous because it's true. When the little girl named Juanita said "Por que, not," I lauhed because of the Spanglisht hat she used. Sometimes Dominicans sound very uneducated in the way they speak. My parents were educated so they learned Spanish in school but my mom's siblings all dropped out so they speak in the way that the book is written. And my cousins who come here from Dominican republic speak Spanglish too. Sometimes I feel detached with my culture because when I read these things I laugh but other Dominican Americans find it normal. These are the people that I also usually make fun of in my head because they speak slang instead of proper Spanish, but then I realize my aunts and uncles act like that too. I like how even though we come from the same race and culture we are very different which means that stereotypes don't really apply to different races.
Semester 2! Journal 4
Kimba was playing double dutch with her little cousins but the laughter drowned out as her mother ordered her to come back inside for it was getting dark.
"But mother, the game isn't finished!"
"I don't care. It is unsafe for young children to be out at night, come inside."
"I hate you!" Kimba trudged her feet on the dirty mud and went to bed. She slammed the door but she forgot to lock it. Her body was turned opposite to the direction of the door. Her eyes were wide open in the darkness as she thought of the way her mother felt when she lashed out on her. Her feet slipped off the bed as she was feeling very restless and wanted to go apologize to her mother. Before she faced the door she heard it creek. She stood up to shut the door but before she could do so somebody grabbed her wrist and knocked her out with a pot.
When Kimba woke up she was half naked on a moving van. The man beside her had a long beard and blood shot eyes. Kimba started to get nervous and cry. For every tear the man started to beat her down, and mutilate her. When she had the chance she kicked him in the balls and jumped out the back door. Before she could look back a tank crashed into the car and set it to flames. The man was getting burned to an oblivion and she sprinted into the deep forest. She began to feel really tired so she knelt down on the floor and cried. She was only twelve years old but she already felt at the point of death. Life in her town was all fun and games and she didn't realize the terrors of the world. She shook as she lay on the grass trembling at the loss of her purity.
"But mother, the game isn't finished!"
"I don't care. It is unsafe for young children to be out at night, come inside."
"I hate you!" Kimba trudged her feet on the dirty mud and went to bed. She slammed the door but she forgot to lock it. Her body was turned opposite to the direction of the door. Her eyes were wide open in the darkness as she thought of the way her mother felt when she lashed out on her. Her feet slipped off the bed as she was feeling very restless and wanted to go apologize to her mother. Before she faced the door she heard it creek. She stood up to shut the door but before she could do so somebody grabbed her wrist and knocked her out with a pot.
When Kimba woke up she was half naked on a moving van. The man beside her had a long beard and blood shot eyes. Kimba started to get nervous and cry. For every tear the man started to beat her down, and mutilate her. When she had the chance she kicked him in the balls and jumped out the back door. Before she could look back a tank crashed into the car and set it to flames. The man was getting burned to an oblivion and she sprinted into the deep forest. She began to feel really tired so she knelt down on the floor and cried. She was only twelve years old but she already felt at the point of death. Life in her town was all fun and games and she didn't realize the terrors of the world. She shook as she lay on the grass trembling at the loss of her purity.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Semester 2! Journal 3
Stacy was at her job giving out paychecks, and noticed that David never picked his up. Being the good girlfriend that she is, she decided to deliver it to his house, hoping she'd receive a reward in return. She made sure to look her very best, because she would be surprising him. She had never been to his home, and she was excited after finding his address in a folder laid out on their bosses’ desk. She drove to his address and saw a gorgeous home that kept her amazed. Such a big house for only one person, she thought. Ding dong, the door rang as the kids came running down the stairs.
"Mommy, mommy, someone is at the door!” One of them said. Lauren walked toward the door and opened it to a stranger saying "Hello".
"Oh sorry, I think I have the wrong house. I was looking for David," Stacy said with a shocked face as she stared at the two children.
"Yes, my husband David is home. Honey! Someone is here for you!" Lauren shouted. David walked to the front door and looked at Stacy's wide eyes in shock. Stacy felt humiliated and shocked at the fact that David lied about being single this whole time. After he slammed the door, Lauren noticed and felt ashamed that her husband treated a guest so rudely. She got up, went back to the door quickly and called back to Stacy.
“Excuse me miss, is everything okay, would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”
“No thanks, I’m fine. I’m clearly not wanted here!” she shouted angrily as she walked back to her car, not making eye contact. Stacy started to speed off. Shame and humiliation flushed her face. Lauren asked David, "Who was that?" David replied, "No one, don't worry about it!" Lauren didn’t buy it and started to yell at him.
“Kids, please go upstairs, your father and I have something very important to talk about." They were so startled at how dramatically their mother had changed, so they ran up the stairs in fear, not asking any questions.
“You better tell me what just happened, or you’ll be sorry”, she said with clenched fists.
“That woman is named Stacy. She works at my job, and I’ve been cheating on you” Lauren's face turned pale and her body started shaking. Lauren decided to head off to the office the next day. Lauren spotted Stacy at the reception desk. "You bitch!" she screamed, as her fist connected with Stacy's face. Stacy was shocked and horrified. It should be ME doing this to you, she thought to herself angrily. As Lauren turned and walked out, she saw David from the corner of her eye. "David!" she yelled. He didn't respond and looked away. How could he lead me on like that? Who does he think he is? Who does his wife think she is? Stacy waited until it was time for David to go home back to his family. She anxiously stayed twenty minutes after, making sure he wouldn’t stick around. At 5:45, she ran out of the building and into the hardware store. She bought a grill lighter and a gallon of gasoline. Should I go there now? She wondered to herself. It’s too early; I have to wait till they’re asleep. Driving anxiously to her house, she counted down the hours with a bottle of wine. At around 11 o’clock, she raced back to her car, stumbling violently. She got behind the driver’s seat, ready to visit him one last time. After the ride that seemed to last only a second, she finally pulled up in front of the house. She grabbed the gasoline and lighter and quietly picked at the lock of their house. She managed to get around the home, pouring a load of gasoline with every step. She gained the courage to set fire to everything, and ran out the house safely. Her eyes gleamed and a grin spread across her face until she could hear the squirming voices of the little children. They all tried to run outside, but couldn’t. They cried, begging Stacy for help, but she just stepped back, and ran away crying. I should’ve just told his wife that I didn’t know he was married.
"Mommy, mommy, someone is at the door!” One of them said. Lauren walked toward the door and opened it to a stranger saying "Hello".
"Oh sorry, I think I have the wrong house. I was looking for David," Stacy said with a shocked face as she stared at the two children.
"Yes, my husband David is home. Honey! Someone is here for you!" Lauren shouted. David walked to the front door and looked at Stacy's wide eyes in shock. Stacy felt humiliated and shocked at the fact that David lied about being single this whole time. After he slammed the door, Lauren noticed and felt ashamed that her husband treated a guest so rudely. She got up, went back to the door quickly and called back to Stacy.
“Excuse me miss, is everything okay, would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”
“No thanks, I’m fine. I’m clearly not wanted here!” she shouted angrily as she walked back to her car, not making eye contact. Stacy started to speed off. Shame and humiliation flushed her face. Lauren asked David, "Who was that?" David replied, "No one, don't worry about it!" Lauren didn’t buy it and started to yell at him.
“Kids, please go upstairs, your father and I have something very important to talk about." They were so startled at how dramatically their mother had changed, so they ran up the stairs in fear, not asking any questions.
“You better tell me what just happened, or you’ll be sorry”, she said with clenched fists.
“That woman is named Stacy. She works at my job, and I’ve been cheating on you” Lauren's face turned pale and her body started shaking. Lauren decided to head off to the office the next day. Lauren spotted Stacy at the reception desk. "You bitch!" she screamed, as her fist connected with Stacy's face. Stacy was shocked and horrified. It should be ME doing this to you, she thought to herself angrily. As Lauren turned and walked out, she saw David from the corner of her eye. "David!" she yelled. He didn't respond and looked away. How could he lead me on like that? Who does he think he is? Who does his wife think she is? Stacy waited until it was time for David to go home back to his family. She anxiously stayed twenty minutes after, making sure he wouldn’t stick around. At 5:45, she ran out of the building and into the hardware store. She bought a grill lighter and a gallon of gasoline. Should I go there now? She wondered to herself. It’s too early; I have to wait till they’re asleep. Driving anxiously to her house, she counted down the hours with a bottle of wine. At around 11 o’clock, she raced back to her car, stumbling violently. She got behind the driver’s seat, ready to visit him one last time. After the ride that seemed to last only a second, she finally pulled up in front of the house. She grabbed the gasoline and lighter and quietly picked at the lock of their house. She managed to get around the home, pouring a load of gasoline with every step. She gained the courage to set fire to everything, and ran out the house safely. Her eyes gleamed and a grin spread across her face until she could hear the squirming voices of the little children. They all tried to run outside, but couldn’t. They cried, begging Stacy for help, but she just stepped back, and ran away crying. I should’ve just told his wife that I didn’t know he was married.
Semester 2! Reflection 1
I read the short story "Antojos" by Julia Alvarez. It spoke of a Dominican American girl's desire to go across the country side to get guavas. Her name is Yolanda. She is very unfamiliar with their language, and has trouble coping with the changes of freedom that she gets compared to if she lived in the States. She would do whatever o get what she wants even if it's defying her family's wishes.
The antagonist would have to be her aunts. They wouldn't let her drive north into the country side toward the coast to look for guavas because they felt that it was dangerous for a girl in an expensive car to go far away. The theme in this story is family. The ties between Yolanda is very strong. Even though Yolanda wants to go outside and and play around like she does in the States her aunts know that it's not safe to do so in certain areas. Yolanda doesn't understand that her family is only trying to protect her until the end of the story. There is also a theme of gender inequality because Yolanda has less freedom. They see her as defenseless and as a target for men. Lastly there is a theme of class because Yolanda and her family always live in fear of getting robbed when going out to poor towns. The techniques that the author uses to illuminate the story is scene, and dialogue. You can tell the difference in how the 'campisinos" or peasants speak compared to the rich Dominicans. The ending else illuminates how troubling it is for a girl in a rich car to roaming around unsafe areas by killing off the person who tries to help her.
The authors tone throughout the story is elegiac; which means having a mournful quality. Yolanda has traveled to the Dominican Republic in order to search for her cultural and personal identity. Her difficulty relating to her relatives and other Dominicans reflects the emotional complexity of immigration. Having left her home country at a very young age, she has lost much of the language and culture that forms her family background and national heritage. For this reason, she approaches situations differently than the rest of her family, and there is a gap between their cultural perspective and her own. This gap leads to a certain distance between her and the other members of the family. The intimacy she should feel upon being reunited with her aunts and cousins contrasts with the alienation she actually feels. Through the interactions within her family one can see that there is a sad tone in the story because she had high expectations to connect with her family but she still sticks out like a sore thumb.
The crises action is when Yolanda finally gets the guavas and then gets a flat tire. Yolanda gets the guavas but by the end she realizes that she needs to adapt to a new culture. When she gets a flat tire she asked a peasant to go to the mansion and ask for help. By the end she realizes he was killed because he was accused of lying. People found it very strange that a women would be alone in the countryside driving an expensive car. In the end she realizes that she can't go around acting like an American girl while living in Dominican Republic.
The antagonist would have to be her aunts. They wouldn't let her drive north into the country side toward the coast to look for guavas because they felt that it was dangerous for a girl in an expensive car to go far away. The theme in this story is family. The ties between Yolanda is very strong. Even though Yolanda wants to go outside and and play around like she does in the States her aunts know that it's not safe to do so in certain areas. Yolanda doesn't understand that her family is only trying to protect her until the end of the story. There is also a theme of gender inequality because Yolanda has less freedom. They see her as defenseless and as a target for men. Lastly there is a theme of class because Yolanda and her family always live in fear of getting robbed when going out to poor towns. The techniques that the author uses to illuminate the story is scene, and dialogue. You can tell the difference in how the 'campisinos" or peasants speak compared to the rich Dominicans. The ending else illuminates how troubling it is for a girl in a rich car to roaming around unsafe areas by killing off the person who tries to help her.
The authors tone throughout the story is elegiac; which means having a mournful quality. Yolanda has traveled to the Dominican Republic in order to search for her cultural and personal identity. Her difficulty relating to her relatives and other Dominicans reflects the emotional complexity of immigration. Having left her home country at a very young age, she has lost much of the language and culture that forms her family background and national heritage. For this reason, she approaches situations differently than the rest of her family, and there is a gap between their cultural perspective and her own. This gap leads to a certain distance between her and the other members of the family. The intimacy she should feel upon being reunited with her aunts and cousins contrasts with the alienation she actually feels. Through the interactions within her family one can see that there is a sad tone in the story because she had high expectations to connect with her family but she still sticks out like a sore thumb.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how it was easy for me to relate to the protagonist. Considering that I am a Dominican American myself, and that my family from Dominican Republic is wealthy I know how hard it is for them to understand where I am coming from. The only difference between the protagonist and I is the language barrier because I am pretty fluent in Spanish. The only way people can tell the difference is if I can't speak slang. Yolanda's return to her extended family is complicated because she does not fit into Dominican culture the way her cousins do. She sticks out physically because she dresses informally and wears her hair long and naturally, whereas her cousins wear designer pantsuits and color their hair. The way I dress is always something people look a weirdly. Because while i where floral things, and knit sweaters they wear stuff that's very fitted and what I would consider ghetto. We also have a dramatically different perspective on class than the rest of my family. Yolanda and I both notice the poor treatment that the maids receive, as well as deferential physical postures that reflect their class subordination. They seem to adopt these humble postures to deflect the aunts' verbal abuse, and Yolanda sympathizes with them rather than her complaining aunts.
My favorite quote is "She has been too frightened to carry out any strategy, but now a road is opening up before her... Then, as if the admission itself loosens her tongue, she begins to speak, English, a few words, of apology at first, then a great flood of explanation..." While stranded, two men approach Yolanda and ask if she needs help. She is frozen with terror until they ask if she is an American. At this point, she begins speaking English, which the men do not understand, and conclude that she is indeed American. This is ironic because the purpose for her trip to the Dominican Republic was to assert her Dominican identity and connect to her cultural and family roots. Yet, she fears interacting with Dominicans outside the safety of the family compound. I can relate because I am more comfortable talking in English even when people ask me questions in Spanish. Even though I speak Spanish to my parents to people like Ms. Brito, or Ms. Holmes I always respond to them in English even though I understand what they are saying.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Semester 2! - Journal 2 (Slow Motion)
It was the first key that sparked something into the groom's mind. His bride made the first step onto the carpet and the countless memories he spent with his fiancee was lost except for one. The nerves of settling down could have been getting to him. Or maybe he was just scared that he was too young. In that split second he brushed off all feelings for her. That single F note was enough to remind him of the night he first met her. The way she dazzled him. The way she hollered at everyone. They way she chugged down every glass of alcohol. She was a lady of experience.
As the pianist began playing 'Here Comes the Bride' the groom knew that his partner was about to walk down the aisle. The first night he encountered her was in a club in Harlem. He had took so many shots that to anyone she would seem perfect. He saw the veil from his peripheral vision. Then looked back at when she had her dazzling purple dress that accentuated her womanly features. But now he wasn't thinking about her body but rather the black hairy mole that was very prominent. She was dancing... I mean hobbling because she danced like a blindfolded donkey.
"Look at my man, scoring the ladies," His friends yelped, laughing at him.
Then his best friend which is now his best man whispered in his ear and said 'butter face.' The sparkle in her eyes was gone.
The past isn't just the past. People can be different one night and change the next day. Not all change is a progression. Except his fiancee did not change. The groom did. The lady he saw then was exactly what he saw now. Except now she didn't excite him. She was out of control on the dance floor, and out of control on the passageway. She walked as if the aisle was her runway. Maybe he needed a women like that in his life. Somebody who could find fun out of everything. But all she is, is fun, not 'wife material'.
As the pianist began playing 'Here Comes the Bride' the groom knew that his partner was about to walk down the aisle. The first night he encountered her was in a club in Harlem. He had took so many shots that to anyone she would seem perfect. He saw the veil from his peripheral vision. Then looked back at when she had her dazzling purple dress that accentuated her womanly features. But now he wasn't thinking about her body but rather the black hairy mole that was very prominent. She was dancing... I mean hobbling because she danced like a blindfolded donkey.
"Look at my man, scoring the ladies," His friends yelped, laughing at him.
Then his best friend which is now his best man whispered in his ear and said 'butter face.' The sparkle in her eyes was gone.
The past isn't just the past. People can be different one night and change the next day. Not all change is a progression. Except his fiancee did not change. The groom did. The lady he saw then was exactly what he saw now. Except now she didn't excite him. She was out of control on the dance floor, and out of control on the passageway. She walked as if the aisle was her runway. Maybe he needed a women like that in his life. Somebody who could find fun out of everything. But all she is, is fun, not 'wife material'.
Semester 2! - Journal 1 (Flash back)
Characters: Lucy and Freddie
Place: London - Community Center
Eileen was skipping up the steps and it reminded Freddie of Lucy's infinite positivity before she had met him. They finally got up to the outlet store built into London's community center. There sat the maroon couch that Lucy and him were planning to buy but they never got to it. The empty and unwanted inanimate object was unable to vouch for itself and tell everyone that this was the kind of couch somebody wanted in their home. Kind of like Freddie.
"Freddie! Hurry look at this couch!" Lucy shouted from the other side of the display room. She was wearing a light pink chiffon maxi skirt, and sun hat. In contrast to her bright appearance was a forced smile. Her eyes squinted, and eyebrows furrowed and she said "Did you hear me?" Freddie, in his dark grey sweater and Adidas jogging pants shrugged and laid on top of the bed nearest to him.
"Tell me when you're done," Freddie said.
"Oh come on, this is for our home, please, I want your advice too." She bent down to take his head and force him off the bed but her arms weren't strong enough to prevent him from rolling into his sleeping position.
"Just tell me if the couch is pretty!" Lucy screamed not even trying to hide the fact that she was frustrated anymore.
"I honestly do not care."
"You never give a shit," she said walking away. As Lucy approached the revolving door Freddie realized she was serious and started to run after her but when he went past the revolving doors she was gone.
"Dad, did you hear me?!" Eileen shouted
"Oh sorry... I missed that."
"Jeez, this is exactly why mom ditched us."
Freddie throat clogged and eyes burned as he tried to prevent the tears coming out from his eyes. He stayed quiet.
"So..." she sighed. "I'm going to buy snack wraps from the new food stand. What dressing do you want?"
"I don't care. Whatever you want."
"You never care," Eileen said as she walked towards the revolving door. Before Eileen reached the door Freddie ran up to her, kneeled, and held her by the waist.
"I'm sorry. I want ranch," he teared.
Eileen grabbed his arms and pushed him off of her. "Dad, you're so embarrassing."
She started walking towards the opposite direction of the door and towards the food stand. Halfway there she looked back and yelled 'Finally,' with a great big smile.
Place: London - Community Center
Eileen was skipping up the steps and it reminded Freddie of Lucy's infinite positivity before she had met him. They finally got up to the outlet store built into London's community center. There sat the maroon couch that Lucy and him were planning to buy but they never got to it. The empty and unwanted inanimate object was unable to vouch for itself and tell everyone that this was the kind of couch somebody wanted in their home. Kind of like Freddie.
"Freddie! Hurry look at this couch!" Lucy shouted from the other side of the display room. She was wearing a light pink chiffon maxi skirt, and sun hat. In contrast to her bright appearance was a forced smile. Her eyes squinted, and eyebrows furrowed and she said "Did you hear me?" Freddie, in his dark grey sweater and Adidas jogging pants shrugged and laid on top of the bed nearest to him.
"Tell me when you're done," Freddie said.
"Oh come on, this is for our home, please, I want your advice too." She bent down to take his head and force him off the bed but her arms weren't strong enough to prevent him from rolling into his sleeping position.
"Just tell me if the couch is pretty!" Lucy screamed not even trying to hide the fact that she was frustrated anymore.
"I honestly do not care."
"You never give a shit," she said walking away. As Lucy approached the revolving door Freddie realized she was serious and started to run after her but when he went past the revolving doors she was gone.
"Dad, did you hear me?!" Eileen shouted
"Oh sorry... I missed that."
"Jeez, this is exactly why mom ditched us."
Freddie throat clogged and eyes burned as he tried to prevent the tears coming out from his eyes. He stayed quiet.
"So..." she sighed. "I'm going to buy snack wraps from the new food stand. What dressing do you want?"
"I don't care. Whatever you want."
"You never care," Eileen said as she walked towards the revolving door. Before Eileen reached the door Freddie ran up to her, kneeled, and held her by the waist.
"I'm sorry. I want ranch," he teared.
Eileen grabbed his arms and pushed him off of her. "Dad, you're so embarrassing."
She started walking towards the opposite direction of the door and towards the food stand. Halfway there she looked back and yelled 'Finally,' with a great big smile.
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