Review- Gathering Of Pearls / blog 11

Write a short review of the novel -- what do you think of it? Do you like it or not and why? Would you recommend another student to read it or not and why? Be specific.

Lillian Xu

English II

Mrs. Guarino

Nov 18th, 2015

Reviewing Gathering Of Pearls

The book Gathering Of Pearls is a novel written based on the author, Choi Sook Nyul's real experience, which basically talks about how to blend into American college and culture as a foreigner. She experienced the brutal Japanese Occupation when she was young, and moved to MA, the United States for education.

The protagonist of the book, Sookan Bak, a nineteen years old Korean girl who studies aboard in America, has already finished her first year in college. She eventually realizes the differences of culture during her first year of studying between Korea, her homeland and America, where she studies, and adapts both culture while she is steeping in the American environment. Because of the Korean war, Sookan's family isn't wealthy; instead, it can even be described as very poor. Sookan's mother spends all their money and even borrowed some from their relatives to buy her the ticket to America. The poverty of her famiy makes Sookan a hard working scholarship student. Sookan has to work for school in her private time every week for fifteen hours, and has to get a good grade for all; this makes her life very tough when she first comes to America, because her English is really poor; but when she gets used to it and know English better, she finds it easier. During her first year at school, she makes a lot of new friendswho treat her very nicely, both teachers and students, and she has also went to a mixer to have better communication with the community.

I found this book very interesting; Sookan is very different from the other students who study aboard now. Nowadays, only children in the rich family are sent to foreign countries for studying, and they don't have to worry about money at all, because their family have prepared a plenty for them to use. Some students even buy a lot of luxuries and they don't pay any attention on studying. It might be very suprising to the wealthy kids that how hard Sookan's life is, and how she is doing tons of jobs while they are playing and having fun. I think all students that studies oversea should read this book, because this book explains how a student can have happiness without materialized satisfaction, and how a student can seek happiness in daily life without spending a huge amount of money. Different from material satisfaction, Sookan get's happiness by hanging out with friends and seeking it through little details in her life; taking photo with each other, having dinner at home, and even cooking together. These are really easy simple things to do at free time. There is no need to build people's emotions and moods on wealth.

The book Gathering Of Pearls demonstrates the story of a young Korean girl Sookan studying aboard, conquering the difficulties both in her daily life studying and adaptation and adjustment of a different culture. Many things happened in her first year of college, her mother's death, her roommate Ellen's marriage, her friend Marci's family issue and such and such. She succesfully handled all of these, and improved significantly. I really recommand all oversea students to read this book, because it tells a completely different world of studying aboard.

Peter Pan Ending / blog 10

Wendy grows up and gets older and older but Peter stays the same. Peter complies with his promise to see Wendy once a year in the future, and listen to her stories. In my opinion, I think it is a happy ending for the show because in the original novel, Peter forgets the fairy Tinkle Bell few years after and eventually forgets to come, and Wendy tells the children about Peter Pan's adventures and stories. We don't really know what will happen in the future in the show because we could make optimistic assumptions about the follow-up scenarios; maybe Peter Pan would come once a year until Wendy became a really really old lady couldn't tell him the story again. The show leaves the audience plenty of space for imagining the future, which makes the ennding more meaningful, because we all know the story of Peter Pan, and there might be a little change to make the ending happier. Like all the fairy tales, Peter Pan may renew his acknowledgement of mother and live happy ever after with the Darling's family.

Peter Pan Review / blog 9

Lillian Xu

Mrs. Guarino

English II

Nov 15^th, 2015

Peter Pan Review

There was an orphan boy who never grows up. He knows a place called the Neverland, where he and his fairy friend, Tinker Bell can fly around and have fun. His name is Peter Pan. Unlike other children whose parents care about them, Peter Pan was abandoned by his mother. He refused to grow up, so he went away from his family and lived with the fairies in the Neverland. One day, when he was listening to the bedtime story by Mrs. Darling, he was found by the kids and he lost his shadow when escaping. When he went back for his shadow, he had occasionally woken up Wendy, who was Mrs. Darling’s daughter. She helped him fixed his shadow, and told him a lot of stories. Peter Pan found her very interesting, so he invited her and her brothers to Neverland and wanted Wendy to be their mother. Wendy, her two brothers John and Michael, Peter Pan, and the children in Wonderland had an incredible adventure. They built Wendy House, rescued Princess Lily, made friend with the Indians, and fought with the evil pirate Captain Hook. They won Captain Hook, and went back to their house. Peter Pan didn’t want Wendy to come back because he wanted Wendy to be his mother; but when he saw Mrs. Darling weeping and sent Wendy and her brothers back. He promised Wendy that he would come back every year to visit her and listen to her story.

I really enjoyed the play when I was watching it. Everything was set orderly and beautifully, especially for the background. The walls are painted in beautiful colors, the windows are well made, the bed seems warm and soft, and every single detail has been taken care of, which creates a dreamy atmosphere. It is obvious for the audiences to see that the varsity players had spent a great amount of time on the props, the costumes, the makeups and the setting. Everything happened in the play were just wonderful. The actors expressed their emotions through their facial language and body languages. When Peter Pan was fighting with Captain Hook, I can clearly feel the angriness from him; and when Wendy was kidnapped on the boat, I can feel her fear from her eyes. Overall, it was really a great performance.

Vocab Set 3 / blog 8

Vocabulary Set #3: write word, sentence it comes from, part of speech, definition -- due on your blog by Friday evening.

1. mannequin (n.)

A small, black velvet purse hung on the shoulder of the mannequin.

Definition: a dummy used to display clothes in a store window.

2. second-hand (adj.)

To save money, I had purchased second-hand textbooks from upperclassmen at a fraction of the original price, and I was careful not to use too many notebooks.

Definition: used by others.

3. animatedly (adv.)

Many of our classmates were there, with drinks in hand, talking animatedly.

Definition: full of excitement; lively.

4. faltered (v. past tense)

Flustered, I faltered, then hurriedly responded, "Yes, well, I had a good time, too. Good night."

Definition: start to lose strength or momentum.

5. impulsive (adj.)

She would acknowledge that I had done something impulsive, but would say that it was okay.

Definition: acting or done without forethought.

6. constrained (v. past tense)

But maybe that was why I had wanted to leave home for a while; I had always felt constrained there.

Definition: severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of.

7. Gregorian chant (n.)

A Gregorian chant program is scheduled for June, and students will be coming from around the world.

Definition: a single vocal line church song in free rhythm and restricted scale.

8. pearl (n.)

The pearl necklace and wishbone pin would really stand out against the black velvet.

Definition: a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk.

9. elope (v. present tense)

If it hadn't been for you, she said she might have eloped with Kyle.

Definition: run away secretly in order to get married.

10. taciturn (adj.)

I would write to each of my taciturn brothers, even though they had never written to me.

Definition: reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying a little; shy.

11. sobbed (v. past tense)

I sat, buried my face in my hands, and sobbed.

Definition: cry noisily, making a loud sound.

12. pouch (n.)

In a silk pouch that Mother had made was her thin, white gold wedding band. I put it on and pictured the ring on Mother's hand.

Definition: a small flexible bag.

13. listlessly (adj.)

As I stared forward listlessly, little Sarah snuggled up against me, and whispered into my ear, "I love you, Sookan."

Definition: lacking energy or enthusiasm.

14. hymn (n.)

I was comforted by their high-pitched hymns reverberating in the domed chapel.

Definition: a religious song/poem, typically of phrase to god or a god.

15. fainted(v. past tense)

She had fainted, and they found out it was a cerebral hemorrhage.

Definition: losing consciousness; pass out.

Sookans Future / blog 7

Lillian Xu

English II

Mrs Guarino

Nov 6th, 2015

                                                  Sookan's Future

Sookan is a girl from Korea who studies aboard in America. She went to a Catholic School that was closed to New York, and during this period, she made lots of friends.  She finally figured out how close minded and traditional Korea compared to the America from the daily conversation with her friends, from what she felt from the environment, and from what she saw everyday. She found a huge gap between her family and she, because these two culture are so different and some of her family members wouldn't understand her. But I assume that things would turn out to be better; fortunately, Sookan is mentally strong and she handles everything she is facing in the future. 

In my imagination, Sookan will eventually adapt the American culture even though her sister wants her to be a traditional Korean. Her roommate Ellen is an American, and they become very good friends when they first meet each other, even though their culture difference is huge. The different cultures make them think in different ways. Americans wants to be unique and everyone can express themselves, but Sookan, as a Korean girl, just wants to incorporate into their culture. In the future, when she get her college degree, she would choose to stay in America to continue to pursue her education. In her mind, education is as important as her family, even though in Korean culture the family and the elders have the highest position in the daily life. Sookan refuses to listen to her sister, Theresa’s opinions for her to stay in Korean and to be a nun, because after she adapts the American culture and thinking, she chooses to do what she think it's right for her to do. Marci and Ellen are both the important characters in this story, but in my opinion, Sookan might want to live with Marci at the school more, because Marci’s personality is similar to Sookan, which is hard working, humble and quiet. But Ellen's character are more close to the American culture, open, talkative and free, which are totally opposite from Sookan. These features does not fit Sookan as how Marci's does, because Sookan just wants to finish her studying and stay quiet That is why Sookan does not want to go to the mixer and make friends there. Sookan is absolutely missing her family in Korea, but she would not go back to Korea in a short period of time, because I think that she may want to stay and get a job to supply her family. Her sister Theresa will be very angry at her, because Sookan was obeying everything that she said when she was in the America; but when she starts studying in America, she begins to be rebellious. Her sister has the desire to control how Sookan thinks and what she is doing. And for Sookan, her family is the most important thing in her whole life, especially her mom. She would treat her mom very well because she really likes her.

For Sookan, she will have a long way to go. it must has the long distance, she might be struggling a little, but I believe that she will overcome all the problems. Her family would support her on her way, and her friends would also support her. I assume that in the end of the story, we will see Sookan achieved her dream and she may find the way to adapt both American and Korean cultures.