Book Title: Memoirs of a Geisha
Pages Since Last Week: 1000
Pages Since Semester: 1030
Weekly Summary: Sayuri's(Chiyo) unsuccessful escape with her sister left her in a strict watch by Mother, Granny, and the rest of the maids. Chiyo's mother and father passed away.
Weekly Thoughts: Where there is a beginning, there is an ending- life and death. I find it sad to have to live a life when you know that death is bound to happen. Oh well, that is what we all know is soon to happen. Do you think it would be best to know the future or not? Although I am always curious about the future and would not agree that it is preferable to live in uncertainty, I find that living life without knowing the outcome is better. I do believe so, because if you were to try at something, and you already know what is to come, then there is not use in doing that because it would not count. If you do not know what the outcome would be, then it would be easier to try.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Blog #17
Book Title: Memoirs of a Geisha
Pages Since Last Week: 979
Pages Since Semester: 1000
Weekly Summary: Sayuri visted the Tatsuyo building to visit her sister Satsu. Sayuri and her sister plan to run away together.
Weekly Thoughts: Reading about Sayuri and Satsu's helpless situation makes me think about all the poor children being used as sex slaves all over in Thailand. Slaves have been around since the earlier B.C. starting with the the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. These children in Thailand used as sex slaves are sold, traded, and held agasint their own will. This is just like Sayuri and Satsu being depressed into becoming a Geisha and a prostitute. The children in Thailand and all involuntary sex slaves need help. Currently the U.S. government is confronting and arresting the customers and releasing these poor sex slaves into better homes. To find out more about this sad event, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/slaves/etc/stats.html. Does not this epidemic make you appreciate more about our freedom? Liberty should not be something taken for granted. You should appreciate all the things that you have.
Pages Since Last Week: 979
Pages Since Semester: 1000
Weekly Summary: Sayuri visted the Tatsuyo building to visit her sister Satsu. Sayuri and her sister plan to run away together.
Weekly Thoughts: Reading about Sayuri and Satsu's helpless situation makes me think about all the poor children being used as sex slaves all over in Thailand. Slaves have been around since the earlier B.C. starting with the the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. These children in Thailand used as sex slaves are sold, traded, and held agasint their own will. This is just like Sayuri and Satsu being depressed into becoming a Geisha and a prostitute. The children in Thailand and all involuntary sex slaves need help. Currently the U.S. government is confronting and arresting the customers and releasing these poor sex slaves into better homes. To find out more about this sad event, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/slaves/etc/stats.html. Does not this epidemic make you appreciate more about our freedom? Liberty should not be something taken for granted. You should appreciate all the things that you have.
Blog #16
Book Title: Siddhartha
Pages Since Last Week: 890
Pages Since Semester: 979
Weekly Summary: Siddhartha leaves the Samanas and enter the world of materialism. He then leaves this world in search for enlightenment and learns from the river and reaches enlightenment.
Weekly Thoughts: Govinda has followed Gotama for many years and has never achieved Enlightenment whereas Siddhartha did reach Enlightenment without Gotama's teachings. Why is it that some can learn and some do not? You cannot find full understanding of something until you learn it experiencing it yourself. You would never fully comprehend from a teacher, because everything is intepretated. Thus, having a distortion to it. This relates back to "Allegory of the Cave". When you are in the cave you learn from the shadows and see a distorted version of the truth, but when you go outside, you will see the truth. So, to get the best understanding of something, you must learn it through your self.
Pages Since Last Week: 890
Pages Since Semester: 979
Weekly Summary: Siddhartha leaves the Samanas and enter the world of materialism. He then leaves this world in search for enlightenment and learns from the river and reaches enlightenment.
Weekly Thoughts: Govinda has followed Gotama for many years and has never achieved Enlightenment whereas Siddhartha did reach Enlightenment without Gotama's teachings. Why is it that some can learn and some do not? You cannot find full understanding of something until you learn it experiencing it yourself. You would never fully comprehend from a teacher, because everything is intepretated. Thus, having a distortion to it. This relates back to "Allegory of the Cave". When you are in the cave you learn from the shadows and see a distorted version of the truth, but when you go outside, you will see the truth. So, to get the best understanding of something, you must learn it through your self.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Blog #15
Book Title: Memoirs of a Geisha
Pages Since Last Week: 762
Pages Since Semester: 890
Weekly Summary: Sayuri is now attending Geisha school, where she will learn all of the ways on how to act like one, tea ceremonies dance, singing, and shamisen. Sayuri was framed by Hatsumono evil threats.
Weekly Thoughts: It would defiantly suck if you were to be charged guilty and be of fault for something that you did not do. These occurrences not only happen with such fictional stories, like "Memories of a Geisha," but also to real people. Like, when Dateline has their special viewing of the court and judge and subject, I would sometimes see subjects being charged even if they were a non-participant in the murder case. This happens because even though the person may have not been involved with the actual hands on murdering, the person knowing about the situation should have informed the police or authorities to ensure safety for the victims. You can never be too careful in life. Then again, you can be too much. You can always try to rid yourself of dangerous situations and surroundings, but sometimes these "bad people" or unlucky situations just happen. It is always best to be prepared if such situations occur.
Pages Since Last Week: 762
Pages Since Semester: 890
Weekly Summary: Sayuri is now attending Geisha school, where she will learn all of the ways on how to act like one, tea ceremonies dance, singing, and shamisen. Sayuri was framed by Hatsumono evil threats.
Weekly Thoughts: It would defiantly suck if you were to be charged guilty and be of fault for something that you did not do. These occurrences not only happen with such fictional stories, like "Memories of a Geisha," but also to real people. Like, when Dateline has their special viewing of the court and judge and subject, I would sometimes see subjects being charged even if they were a non-participant in the murder case. This happens because even though the person may have not been involved with the actual hands on murdering, the person knowing about the situation should have informed the police or authorities to ensure safety for the victims. You can never be too careful in life. Then again, you can be too much. You can always try to rid yourself of dangerous situations and surroundings, but sometimes these "bad people" or unlucky situations just happen. It is always best to be prepared if such situations occur.
blog #14
Book Title: Siddhartha
Pages Since Last Week: 712
Pages Since Semester: 762
Weekly Summary: Siddhartha has been searching a lot and finds himself dissatisfied with whichever group he runs into. He then realizes something about peripheral vision and reality.
Weekly Thoughts: "Allegory of the Cave" is about how being surrounded by such medias like television and the radio, makes your vision becomes distorted and not exactly real. Siddhartha was much like this too. When he was surrounded by all of the Samanas, he did not understand much, but gained clarity through observations of nature and the world. About last year, when my English class had an in class essay prompt to write about, if newspapers are really realiable, I, at first did not understand. I wanted to say yes, becasue the newspaper and news through television would be where I would comprehend as facts. It is until reading "Allegory of the Cave," that I see that just because a story is on the news, it does not mean that it is truthful. Every person has his or her own interpretation of something. You cannot take another persons word for anything, because it would only be that persons truth, for he has experienced it himself. There is nothing that can be fully comprehensive without experience.
Pages Since Last Week: 712
Pages Since Semester: 762
Weekly Summary: Siddhartha has been searching a lot and finds himself dissatisfied with whichever group he runs into. He then realizes something about peripheral vision and reality.
Weekly Thoughts: "Allegory of the Cave" is about how being surrounded by such medias like television and the radio, makes your vision becomes distorted and not exactly real. Siddhartha was much like this too. When he was surrounded by all of the Samanas, he did not understand much, but gained clarity through observations of nature and the world. About last year, when my English class had an in class essay prompt to write about, if newspapers are really realiable, I, at first did not understand. I wanted to say yes, becasue the newspaper and news through television would be where I would comprehend as facts. It is until reading "Allegory of the Cave," that I see that just because a story is on the news, it does not mean that it is truthful. Every person has his or her own interpretation of something. You cannot take another persons word for anything, because it would only be that persons truth, for he has experienced it himself. There is nothing that can be fully comprehensive without experience.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Blog#13
Book Title: Siddhartha
Pages Since Last Week: 700
Pages Since Semester: 712
Weekly Summary: Siddhartha is the "handsome Brahmin's son"(pg.3). Although he has learned much wisdom through his teachers and Brahman father, Siddhartha leaves home to become a Samana.
Weekly Thoughts: Initially when I was reading through Siddhartha dissatisfaction, I became upset for how discontent he was about his good life. It seemed as if he had everything, until I read, "One must find the source within one's own Self, one must possess it. Everything else was seeking- a detour-error."(pg. 7) This is true. Siddhartha was thirsty for knowledge, he felt as if there was more out there to be learned, something else different. I agree with Siddhartha actions now(leaving home), because this allows him to follow his own heart. For the reason why so many people in this world are dissatisfied, is because they do not allow themselves. Siddhartha was much this way when he was under the teachings of Brahmin's. The styles of Brahman's were not along the same beliefs of Siddhartha. This is why he went away to search more and this is why you should too. If you believe in something, you should go out there and do what you believe in. Otherwise everything you do(following someone else's rule) would be incorrect and worthless, because it is not what you want-live by(according to your standards and beliefs). Old customs such as Southern women waiting for men to ask them out should not be followed if you yourself, a Southern women, want to do the asking. If you see a guy out there that you like, you should ask him out. You should not follow tradition, practices, or beliefs just because they simply state that is what you should do. You should do as you please as long as it does not hurt anyone along the way. Live as you wish, if not, then life will be lived for you. What is the point in following a religion if you do not believe in it? You should follow your own beliefs. If you do not then you will be living God's life, and none of yours.
Pages Since Last Week: 700
Pages Since Semester: 712
Weekly Summary: Siddhartha is the "handsome Brahmin's son"(pg.3). Although he has learned much wisdom through his teachers and Brahman father, Siddhartha leaves home to become a Samana.
Weekly Thoughts: Initially when I was reading through Siddhartha dissatisfaction, I became upset for how discontent he was about his good life. It seemed as if he had everything, until I read, "One must find the source within one's own Self, one must possess it. Everything else was seeking- a detour-error."(pg. 7) This is true. Siddhartha was thirsty for knowledge, he felt as if there was more out there to be learned, something else different. I agree with Siddhartha actions now(leaving home), because this allows him to follow his own heart. For the reason why so many people in this world are dissatisfied, is because they do not allow themselves. Siddhartha was much this way when he was under the teachings of Brahmin's. The styles of Brahman's were not along the same beliefs of Siddhartha. This is why he went away to search more and this is why you should too. If you believe in something, you should go out there and do what you believe in. Otherwise everything you do(following someone else's rule) would be incorrect and worthless, because it is not what you want-live by(according to your standards and beliefs). Old customs such as Southern women waiting for men to ask them out should not be followed if you yourself, a Southern women, want to do the asking. If you see a guy out there that you like, you should ask him out. You should not follow tradition, practices, or beliefs just because they simply state that is what you should do. You should do as you please as long as it does not hurt anyone along the way. Live as you wish, if not, then life will be lived for you. What is the point in following a religion if you do not believe in it? You should follow your own beliefs. If you do not then you will be living God's life, and none of yours.
Blog #12
Book Title: Memoris of a Geisha
Pages Since Last Week: 650
Pages Since Semester: 700
Weekly Summary: Sayuri(Chiyo) is the daughter of an ill mother and old age father and sister of Satsu, who is six years older. Sayuri and her sister are sent to a "better" place because Sayuri and Satsu parents were too old to take care of them.
Weekly Thoughts: Living in America, I feel so fortunate. I basically have more than I need. I have education, a home, a family , food, and friends. Besides from my mother telling me that I am lucky to be living in America, I have never gave much thought about what I have until one day my art teacher would repeadidly say to the entire class, "you are so lucky; you have running water, a toilet, and a home." I've always knew that living in America, I did have more advantages like education. Knowing that I have more than others, especially in third world countires, I feel like I should be smart and take advantages of such situations. I noticed that there are some people who do not appreciate or even acknowledge what they have and I feel sorry for them, because they do not know what they are doing to themselves.
Pages Since Last Week: 650
Pages Since Semester: 700
Weekly Summary: Sayuri(Chiyo) is the daughter of an ill mother and old age father and sister of Satsu, who is six years older. Sayuri and her sister are sent to a "better" place because Sayuri and Satsu parents were too old to take care of them.
Weekly Thoughts: Living in America, I feel so fortunate. I basically have more than I need. I have education, a home, a family , food, and friends. Besides from my mother telling me that I am lucky to be living in America, I have never gave much thought about what I have until one day my art teacher would repeadidly say to the entire class, "you are so lucky; you have running water, a toilet, and a home." I've always knew that living in America, I did have more advantages like education. Knowing that I have more than others, especially in third world countires, I feel like I should be smart and take advantages of such situations. I noticed that there are some people who do not appreciate or even acknowledge what they have and I feel sorry for them, because they do not know what they are doing to themselves.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Blog #11:
Book Title: Westminster Abby
Pages Since Last Week: 590
Pages Since Semester: 650
Weekly Summary: Abby confessed to her parents about her outings with boys and told them everything that has been going on in her life. Abby is happy with finding her independency.
Weekly Thoughts: Earlier in Abby's life she had James, her first boyfriend, who soon cheated on her and became her ex boyfriend, but then came along Ian. Ian was a guy who genuinely took interest in her. Abby was feeling pressured into having to decide on a guy especially now that both Ian and James are fighting for her. What should Abby do? What would you do? The world moves at its own pace. It is either that you move with the world or you don't, and sometimes, you could even move ahead of the world..but anyways, the point is that it is best to move with the world, you know, go with the flow. And as you move with the world, it is best to follow your own flow and to not be pressured by anyone else, but to move accordingly to your own path. Some people ruin their lives by living under the influence of others. It should not be that way because you should follow your own self otherwise, your life would be imbalanced and you would never be happy.
Pages Since Last Week: 590
Pages Since Semester: 650
Weekly Summary: Abby confessed to her parents about her outings with boys and told them everything that has been going on in her life. Abby is happy with finding her independency.
Weekly Thoughts: Earlier in Abby's life she had James, her first boyfriend, who soon cheated on her and became her ex boyfriend, but then came along Ian. Ian was a guy who genuinely took interest in her. Abby was feeling pressured into having to decide on a guy especially now that both Ian and James are fighting for her. What should Abby do? What would you do? The world moves at its own pace. It is either that you move with the world or you don't, and sometimes, you could even move ahead of the world..but anyways, the point is that it is best to move with the world, you know, go with the flow. And as you move with the world, it is best to follow your own flow and to not be pressured by anyone else, but to move accordingly to your own path. Some people ruin their lives by living under the influence of others. It should not be that way because you should follow your own self otherwise, your life would be imbalanced and you would never be happy.
Blog#10:in the cave
Book Title:Westminster Abby
Pages Since Last Week: 530
Pages Since Semester: 590
Weekly Summary: Abby is suddenly greeted with James, her ex-boyfriend whom she was trying to ignore. James and Abby visits Dublin city.
Weekly Thoughts: "My ideal man is tall, dark, and handsome." You would hear some women say. What is it that makes a person head over heels for another person? Would it be that because he is a successful business man and just about the best tennis player around the block? This is absoloutely enough to make a woman fall in love with a man. But one fatal misconception that this poor young lady in love does not know, is that she has not fallen for the man, but for the idea of the man. She has fallen head over heels for what he represents but not for who he is. One of my former english teachers told her students a little something about life. That love relationships should not be all about the looks, because as time takes its course, you will soon discover that external looks do not always remain the same as it did 30 years back when. And then when you look over to your marriage partner, you may wonder, "why the heck did I marry this guy?", or better yet, "Who the heck did I marry?" As divorce rates increase, you may wonder if a misconception with the mind would be a reason for this epidemic.
Pages Since Last Week: 530
Pages Since Semester: 590
Weekly Summary: Abby is suddenly greeted with James, her ex-boyfriend whom she was trying to ignore. James and Abby visits Dublin city.
Weekly Thoughts: "My ideal man is tall, dark, and handsome." You would hear some women say. What is it that makes a person head over heels for another person? Would it be that because he is a successful business man and just about the best tennis player around the block? This is absoloutely enough to make a woman fall in love with a man. But one fatal misconception that this poor young lady in love does not know, is that she has not fallen for the man, but for the idea of the man. She has fallen head over heels for what he represents but not for who he is. One of my former english teachers told her students a little something about life. That love relationships should not be all about the looks, because as time takes its course, you will soon discover that external looks do not always remain the same as it did 30 years back when. And then when you look over to your marriage partner, you may wonder, "why the heck did I marry this guy?", or better yet, "Who the heck did I marry?" As divorce rates increase, you may wonder if a misconception with the mind would be a reason for this epidemic.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Blog #9:Shut up, I am me
Book Title: Westminster Abby
Pages Since Last Week: 475
Pages Since Semester: 530
Weekly Summary: Abby frequently bumps into Ian, a student. Lately, Abby hangs out at the pub with the rest of her peers.
Weekly Thoughts: Have you ever thought about how stereotypes came about? Since reading Westminster Abby, I have discovered that kids from this book drink at pubs, and they are high schoolers. I do not think any of them are the age of 21 or over, because Abby is just a junior at the age of 17. The laws in America and London may be different about drinking, but as of now it definitely seems as if London's age drinking limit is much lower. Since London and America seem to have different laws, America and London also seem to have different cultural values and perspectives. This must be why you hear people say, "Americans are more..." or that "British are..." and this and that way. Every culture is seen as one perspective in a whole, or generality. I know many people do not like to be judged as a whole, because every person wants to be their own person, but this must be how stereotypes came about. Even though stereotypical notions may not apply to every individual, stereotypes most have some kind of trueness since it truly did not just appear out of thin air.
Pages Since Last Week: 475
Pages Since Semester: 530
Weekly Summary: Abby frequently bumps into Ian, a student. Lately, Abby hangs out at the pub with the rest of her peers.
Weekly Thoughts: Have you ever thought about how stereotypes came about? Since reading Westminster Abby, I have discovered that kids from this book drink at pubs, and they are high schoolers. I do not think any of them are the age of 21 or over, because Abby is just a junior at the age of 17. The laws in America and London may be different about drinking, but as of now it definitely seems as if London's age drinking limit is much lower. Since London and America seem to have different laws, America and London also seem to have different cultural values and perspectives. This must be why you hear people say, "Americans are more..." or that "British are..." and this and that way. Every culture is seen as one perspective in a whole, or generality. I know many people do not like to be judged as a whole, because every person wants to be their own person, but this must be how stereotypes came about. Even though stereotypical notions may not apply to every individual, stereotypes most have some kind of trueness since it truly did not just appear out of thin air.
Blog #8: respect my privacy
Book Title: Westminster Abby
Pages Since Last Week:414
Pages Since Semester: 475
Weekly Summary: Abby describes herself as a "vanilla-sweet, plain and not very exciting" kind of gal. This summer she decides to be less of her restricted self and more outgoing especially since she is in a totally new country, once living in New York and now living in London, away from her parents.
Weekly Thoughts: Why is it that we only find enough courage to be someone new in a new location?-where we are isolated from all the people we know. Is the lack of self-confidence and embarrassment enough to stop us from discovering ourselves? Do we live in a world that makes our self-confidence feel so judged and scrutinized even though normal people, like us, do not live under the microscopic eye of a celebrity, not want to be ourselves? Life can be hard especially if you have to break out of your usual self to become more of you, the growing you. You shouldn't let other opinions bother you in the process of breaking molds or becoming yourself. I sympathize over private lives being displayed and studied. No one person wants their private lives to be displayed. So, the next time you are about to eavesdrop into a conversation, stop yourself!
Pages Since Last Week:414
Pages Since Semester: 475
Weekly Summary: Abby describes herself as a "vanilla-sweet, plain and not very exciting" kind of gal. This summer she decides to be less of her restricted self and more outgoing especially since she is in a totally new country, once living in New York and now living in London, away from her parents.
Weekly Thoughts: Why is it that we only find enough courage to be someone new in a new location?-where we are isolated from all the people we know. Is the lack of self-confidence and embarrassment enough to stop us from discovering ourselves? Do we live in a world that makes our self-confidence feel so judged and scrutinized even though normal people, like us, do not live under the microscopic eye of a celebrity, not want to be ourselves? Life can be hard especially if you have to break out of your usual self to become more of you, the growing you. You shouldn't let other opinions bother you in the process of breaking molds or becoming yourself. I sympathize over private lives being displayed and studied. No one person wants their private lives to be displayed. So, the next time you are about to eavesdrop into a conversation, stop yourself!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Blog #7: Ipseity
Book Title: Now and Zen
Pages Since Last Week: 353
Pages Since Semester: 414
Weekly Summary: Jiji takes Nori to Nijo Castle and to the Silver Pavilion once again. Nori confesses to Jiji that she does not know who she is.
Weekly Thoughts: "Excuse me, who am I?" I hear my friends screaming, "who am I?" in confusion. Identity crisis! Who am I? Discovering who you are may be hard or an easy obstacle, but I believe college is one place where you can discover yourself a little more. The whole idea of going to college is to discover who are as an independent person, away from help-parents. A part of college is living in dormitories. The location of living somewhere new and different helps you define yourself with what struggles you have to go through while learning and growing independtly. College is like a challenge on how you would handle your life independently generally without any help, because you make all your decisions. This is where you are in control of your own life and can learn from your own mistakes. We are often defined by our actions and this is where you can begin your identity.
Pages Since Last Week: 353
Pages Since Semester: 414
Weekly Summary: Jiji takes Nori to Nijo Castle and to the Silver Pavilion once again. Nori confesses to Jiji that she does not know who she is.
Weekly Thoughts: "Excuse me, who am I?" I hear my friends screaming, "who am I?" in confusion. Identity crisis! Who am I? Discovering who you are may be hard or an easy obstacle, but I believe college is one place where you can discover yourself a little more. The whole idea of going to college is to discover who are as an independent person, away from help-parents. A part of college is living in dormitories. The location of living somewhere new and different helps you define yourself with what struggles you have to go through while learning and growing independtly. College is like a challenge on how you would handle your life independently generally without any help, because you make all your decisions. This is where you are in control of your own life and can learn from your own mistakes. We are often defined by our actions and this is where you can begin your identity.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Blog # 6: Forever
Book Title: Now and Zen
Pages Since Last Week:337
Pages Since Semester:353
Weekly Summary: Nori visits The Temple of the Silver Pavilion. She learns about her parents through her great-uncle and auntie referred to as Jiji and Baba and is told that she is reminded much as her mother.
Weekly Thoughts: "I am my mother's daughter." ( from the movie of Spanglish); I did not understand what this statement meant when I first heard of it. Initially I thought that this comment was only stating the obvious, but I was sure that this comment defiantly had some kind of importance since it seemed to be the moral in the movie. About two months ago, this quote finally made sense to me when I was thinking about my birth date, who I am today, why I am this way, and what made me this way. This made me realize that a person can try to change themselves as much as they want, but can never change the fact that he or she is his or hers mother's son or daughter. Some people do not like what they see in their parents and try to not let themselves be that way. The fact that you are your mother's daughter is unchangeable and nothing else can be done about it. Even as much if you try to change yourself with the characteristics that you seem to obtain from your mother, you will still always be your mother's daughter.
Pages Since Last Week:337
Pages Since Semester:353
Weekly Summary: Nori visits The Temple of the Silver Pavilion. She learns about her parents through her great-uncle and auntie referred to as Jiji and Baba and is told that she is reminded much as her mother.
Weekly Thoughts: "I am my mother's daughter." ( from the movie of Spanglish); I did not understand what this statement meant when I first heard of it. Initially I thought that this comment was only stating the obvious, but I was sure that this comment defiantly had some kind of importance since it seemed to be the moral in the movie. About two months ago, this quote finally made sense to me when I was thinking about my birth date, who I am today, why I am this way, and what made me this way. This made me realize that a person can try to change themselves as much as they want, but can never change the fact that he or she is his or hers mother's son or daughter. Some people do not like what they see in their parents and try to not let themselves be that way. The fact that you are your mother's daughter is unchangeable and nothing else can be done about it. Even as much if you try to change yourself with the characteristics that you seem to obtain from your mother, you will still always be your mother's daughter.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Blog #5 : Roots
Book Title: Now and Zen
Pages Since Last Week: 302
Pages Since Semester:337
Weekly Summary: Nori snuck out of her dormitory and left with Erik, her love interest and foreigner, to take him out in the nightlife ofJapan Kyoto
Weekly Thoughts: "Nori felt strangely comfortable here already. Like she'd come home." (pg.142)
Nori, just arriving at her great aunt and great uncle, feels the comfortableness easily. I think this is so, because she feels welcomed, loved, and a part of something that she has been missing in her life. Nori living in Powell, Ohio, where you are distances across, is hard to hold onto your own ethnic culture. Coming to Japan is something she needed that brought her a piece of herself. Nori and me are both Asian born in America. I have never visited my ethnic home, neither has Nori until her acceptance and arrival to the SASS( Students Across the Seven Seas) host location in Japan. Finding out who you are and your passions, is part in understanding your ethnic culture. Whenever I immerse myself with stories about Gods and ethnic values and ethnic traditions, I feel safe and secure. I think the feeling of having faith, involvement in some type of traditions, like whether celebrating Vietnamese's New Year or the Kitchen God, you feel spiritually connected to your ancestors and self. This feeling of knowing where you came from and feeling the sense of belonging somewhere, helps you define/discover yourself a little further, hopefully comfortableness.
Pages Since Last Week: 302
Pages Since Semester:337
Weekly Summary: Nori snuck out of her dormitory and left with Erik, her love interest and foreigner, to take him out in the nightlife of
Weekly Thoughts: "Nori felt strangely comfortable here already. Like she'd come home." (pg.142)
Nori, just arriving at her great aunt and great uncle, feels the comfortableness easily. I think this is so, because she feels welcomed, loved, and a part of something that she has been missing in her life. Nori living in Powell, Ohio, where you are distances across, is hard to hold onto your own ethnic culture. Coming to Japan is something she needed that brought her a piece of herself. Nori and me are both Asian born in America. I have never visited my ethnic home, neither has Nori until her acceptance and arrival to the SASS( Students Across the Seven Seas) host location in Japan. Finding out who you are and your passions, is part in understanding your ethnic culture. Whenever I immerse myself with stories about Gods and ethnic values and ethnic traditions, I feel safe and secure. I think the feeling of having faith, involvement in some type of traditions, like whether celebrating Vietnamese's New Year or the Kitchen God, you feel spiritually connected to your ancestors and self. This feeling of knowing where you came from and feeling the sense of belonging somewhere, helps you define/discover yourself a little further, hopefully comfortableness.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Blog #4 : Beauty
Book Title: Now and Zen
Pages Since Last Week:190
Pages Since Semester: 302
Weekly Summary: Nori was chosen to study abroad abroad in Japan with other students across the seven seas. Nori made new friends like Astushi, a Japanese local, and a few other abroad students while learning and touring around Japan.
Weekly Thoughts: When Nori and other students visited the onsen, the natural hot springs pool, she did not feel comfortable. Young girls, teenagers, and women today are universally under the pressure to look up to a certain standard of beauty. Some girls in the asian cultures, believe it is better to have light skin tone, bright eyes, and light hair( based on a teen survey). Media and widely accepted American culture tell you that beauty means only looking this way and nothing else. Not all girls are born with the light hair or bright eyes. Beauty is something that is within oneself and should not be based upon the peripheral vision. Happiness and comfortableness within oneself is true beauty.
Pages Since Last Week:190
Pages Since Semester: 302
Weekly Summary: Nori was chosen to study abroad abroad in Japan with other students across the seven seas. Nori made new friends like Astushi, a Japanese local, and a few other abroad students while learning and touring around Japan.
Weekly Thoughts: When Nori and other students visited the onsen, the natural hot springs pool, she did not feel comfortable. Young girls, teenagers, and women today are universally under the pressure to look up to a certain standard of beauty. Some girls in the asian cultures, believe it is better to have light skin tone, bright eyes, and light hair( based on a teen survey). Media and widely accepted American culture tell you that beauty means only looking this way and nothing else. Not all girls are born with the light hair or bright eyes. Beauty is something that is within oneself and should not be based upon the peripheral vision. Happiness and comfortableness within oneself is true beauty.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Blog #3
Book Title: Would I lie to you
Pages Since Last Week: 123
Pages Since Semester: 123-190
Weekly Summary: Dan is confused with his sexuality with after discovering himself having a possible entanglement with his friend Greg(because Dan was drunk). Nate and Blair hold hands throughout the night as they slept.
Weekly Thoughts: Nate and Blair has been known as the two who are meant to be together. No matter how many times Nate cheats on her nor how many times they break up, they both end up falling for each other all over again. I guess sometimes, when you build a strong relationship with someone, you feel that no matter how you treat them, you know that in the end they will still forgive you, because of what you have had was so strong and valuable that all is forgiven. Nate and Blair have always felt this strong special love bond that they had, and with all the cheating and heartaches, she still has room for him in her heart. I do not think that Blair is being pathetic for accepting Nate even though he has put her through misery. I think Blair understands that a young boy like Nate is sometimes ruled over by his body instead of his head. Blair just has the heart to forgive, or that maybe once she has felt “ownership” of Nate, she is unable to permanently move on and let go. She is definitely a conventional person. There are people out there that are unable to let go of certain things and sometimes suffer in pain by letting life take over you instead of you taking over life.
Pages Since Last Week: 123
Pages Since Semester: 123-190
Weekly Summary: Dan is confused with his sexuality with after discovering himself having a possible entanglement with his friend Greg(because Dan was drunk). Nate and Blair hold hands throughout the night as they slept.
Weekly Thoughts: Nate and Blair has been known as the two who are meant to be together. No matter how many times Nate cheats on her nor how many times they break up, they both end up falling for each other all over again. I guess sometimes, when you build a strong relationship with someone, you feel that no matter how you treat them, you know that in the end they will still forgive you, because of what you have had was so strong and valuable that all is forgiven. Nate and Blair have always felt this strong special love bond that they had, and with all the cheating and heartaches, she still has room for him in her heart. I do not think that Blair is being pathetic for accepting Nate even though he has put her through misery. I think Blair understands that a young boy like Nate is sometimes ruled over by his body instead of his head. Blair just has the heart to forgive, or that maybe once she has felt “ownership” of Nate, she is unable to permanently move on and let go. She is definitely a conventional person. There are people out there that are unable to let go of certain things and sometimes suffer in pain by letting life take over you instead of you taking over life.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Blog #2
Book Title: Would I lie to you
Pages Since Last Week: 1-19
Pages Since Semester: 19-123
Weekly Summary: Dan goes to work and is greeted with a new coworker. Nate, Serena, and Blair all reunite.
Weekly Thoughts:Before Dan used to be the guy who no one knew. Customers would just call him hey "you" and "that guy," but now that Jeff, the new employee, is around, Dan is more than gleeful. Every year in school, a new student occasionally transfers to your school. At first you would be the "new girl" or "new boy." No one likes to be the new student because all this attention is shunned upon you, like who is she and where did she come from. People love to talk and listen of good gossip and stories. Besides from that, being new is always tough. You have to adjust your whole lifestyle again, or do you? Does the environment around you make you you or do you make the environment fit you? I guess this answer all depends on who you are whether being passive or impassive. Dan is more of a passive character, where he does not exactly go directly for his goals. Dan being a passive character, let's the environment shape him. Since he waited for a new employee to arrive to solve his troubles instead of telling the customers that his name is Dan Humphrey.
Pages Since Last Week: 1-19
Pages Since Semester: 19-123
Weekly Summary: Dan goes to work and is greeted with a new coworker. Nate, Serena, and Blair all reunite.
Weekly Thoughts:Before Dan used to be the guy who no one knew. Customers would just call him hey "you" and "that guy," but now that Jeff, the new employee, is around, Dan is more than gleeful. Every year in school, a new student occasionally transfers to your school. At first you would be the "new girl" or "new boy." No one likes to be the new student because all this attention is shunned upon you, like who is she and where did she come from. People love to talk and listen of good gossip and stories. Besides from that, being new is always tough. You have to adjust your whole lifestyle again, or do you? Does the environment around you make you you or do you make the environment fit you? I guess this answer all depends on who you are whether being passive or impassive. Dan is more of a passive character, where he does not exactly go directly for his goals. Dan being a passive character, let's the environment shape him. Since he waited for a new employee to arrive to solve his troubles instead of telling the customers that his name is Dan Humphrey.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Blog # 1
Book Title: Would I lie to you
Pages Since Last Week: 19
Pages Since Semester:1-19
Weekly Summary:Serena and Blair are being studied from models so they can capture their essence. Nate is working at his Coach's house.
Weekly Thoughts:
In life, we are faced with choices. Sometimes it just feels like, of all the choices that are available to us, you cannot help but ponder, if the options that are available to you are because of your previous actions. In this book, Nate stole some prescribed pills from his lacrosse coach and is now spending his summer fixing the Coach's boat. Now working at his Coach's house, another problem arises where he is in a blackmail type situation-the Coach's wife wants Nate to do her a little favor and if he does not do this, she could report to her husband, the Coach, that Nate was smoking pot. Currently, nothing is in his favor. Life is what you make of it. Nate chose drugs, stealing, which has all lead him to another sticky situation-he is faced with having to favor the wife or being settled with a long time withholding of his high school diploma.
Pages Since Last Week: 19
Pages Since Semester:1-19
Weekly Summary:Serena and Blair are being studied from models so they can capture their essence. Nate is working at his Coach's house.
Weekly Thoughts:
In life, we are faced with choices. Sometimes it just feels like, of all the choices that are available to us, you cannot help but ponder, if the options that are available to you are because of your previous actions. In this book, Nate stole some prescribed pills from his lacrosse coach and is now spending his summer fixing the Coach's boat. Now working at his Coach's house, another problem arises where he is in a blackmail type situation-the Coach's wife wants Nate to do her a little favor and if he does not do this, she could report to her husband, the Coach, that Nate was smoking pot. Currently, nothing is in his favor. Life is what you make of it. Nate chose drugs, stealing, which has all lead him to another sticky situation-he is faced with having to favor the wife or being settled with a long time withholding of his high school diploma.
Friday, January 12, 2007
All About Me/Saving Me/Don't Let Go
Title: The Devil Wears Prada
Pages: 348-432 (total: 1025)
Andy delivers a speech for Miranda. Andy gets fired from Runway.
Our best interest is our self. We care all and only about ourself. It does not matter who we hurt as long as we get what we want. This is the human self interest at work. Andy missed her nephew's birth, her dates with her boyfriends and her planned outings with her friends, and her family visits. Although Andy did express remorse for her friends and family, she did not actually do anything to prove it. It was not until Miranda pulled Andy's final straw-complimenting Andy that she reminds Miranda of her younger self and that she is substandard at best(for not visiting her friend who is in the hospital)- that Andy cursed at her and left Paris to return back home. Through all the pain and work, as Miranda's assistant Andy was finally able to let go her oncoming one year servitude and one chance closer to working at The New Yorker to be herself. Ever since she became Miranda's assistant Andy slowly morphed into Miranda where she was dressing and acting differently. The only reason why Andy gave everything up was because she did not want to be Miranda. She wanted to be herself. She saw the disillusioned lifestyle Miranda led masked with glamour but filled with loneliness and bitterness. Leaving Miranda is one of the best things Andy ever did. Andy had always had the chance of quitting Runway, for the reason of losing touch with her friends and family but she never did, only until Andy felt direct loss of her. She was losing her identity; leaving Miranda and
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