The Things They Carried

1. I watched the Blind Side a while back when it first came out. The movie was based on a true story about an African American boy who was homeless. A white woman accepted him into her family and took care of him like her own. He later became a very successful young man and also became very well known in football. I honestly loved everything about the movie. The story was so touching, and I became to know each character's personality and fall in love with them. Yes, I think the words "based on a true story" enhanced the movie. Those five words have a rather large impact on me (not that movies that are made up are bad). It's just that that those words indicate that the plot of the story line happened. It makes the movie that much more real to me. Just like the book The Kite Runner, I thought the story was true and it made the story so real to me. When I found out that it was fiction, I was a little disappointed,

4. My favorite story was "On the Rainy River." In this short story, we get to see a side of Tim O'Brien that we haven't seen. Throughout the first couple of stories, he's not a very active character. I didn't really get to know his character very well, but in "On the Rainy River," I can really relate to him. He's afraid and vulnerable and he doesn't want to seem like a coward. I think almost everyone can relate to that. He's so honest about not wanting to enter the war, and this is the point where Tim O'Brien's character seemed real.

My least favorite is probably "Spin" or "How to Tell a True War Story." I think it's because I like stories that are very organized. In "Spin," the character Tim O'Brien randomly talks about the little stories that he remembers at war. There really was no plot... just O'Brien dwelling on the past, reminiscing. I think I particulary dislike "How to Tell a True War Story" because I had to re-read it so many times (I practically have it memorized). I didn't really understand this short story. It was hard for me to relate and understand it because I never experienced war. It was a little confusing because of all the paradoxes.

I love two characters in particular: Henry Dobbins and Mitchell Sanders.
Henry Dobbins- He's such an amazing person as a whole. His intentions are always good, and he wants what's best for everyone. He was such a great friend and a great soldier. Whenever I hear his name, I always imagine a big huge guy that's as friendly as a teddy bear.
Mitchell Sanders- He's the guy that I would trust with my life. Sanders is a very loyal friend. This side of him was shown to him when he got angry at Cross for setting up at the "poop" site.

I didn't really like Azar. I think he was really immature and judgemental. I wouldn't want to me around him when I made a mistake because he'd probably be the kind of person that remember it for the rest of his life and make constant fun of me. I don't think I could talk to him freely, and he's just plain mean.

6. In "On the Rainy River," O'Brien is a very scared young man. He doesn't want to go to war, but

he doesn't want to be a coward in not going. "At some point in mid-July I began thinking seriously about Canada."(pg. 44) Here, O'Brien is considering the fact of abandoning his lifestyle and country instead of going to war. "I was wired and jittery. My skin felt too tight. One supper one evening I vomited and went back to the cabin and lay down for a few moments and then vomited again; I began sweating and couldn't shut it off."(pg. 50) Here, the author O'Brien gives us a clear discription of the character O'Brien's anxiety. He doesn't know what he should do. Either way, there are going to be pros and cons. "... and late in the night I'd lie there watching weird pictures spin through my head. Getting chased by the border patrol--helicopters and searchlights and barking dogs..."(pg. 50) Once again, running away has taken a toll on O'Brien and he is not facing his own imagination and paranoia.

In the short story "The Ghost Soldiers," O'Brien was shot twice. The first time he got shot, Rat Kiley was still the medic. Kiley was a very skilled medic and healed O'Brien in no time. However, the second time O'Brien was shot, Kiley was no longer there. A new medic named Bobby Jorgenson arrived, and he wasn't very experienced as a medic in war. He was afraid to approach O'Brien when he got shot and didn't really know what to do. O'Brien later found out that he almost died from shock and it was even borderline gangrene. O'Brien was furious. He vowed that he would get revenge on Jorgenson.

"I hate him for making me stop hating him."(pg. 200) While O'Brien was talking to his fellow soldiers, one man told him that Jorgenson kept him for dying, and the other soldiers ensured O'Brien that Jorgenson was much more experienced now. Though O'Brien was still angry, he felt a little guilty for hating him. Jorgenson also apologized later on.

"Something had gone wrong. I'd come to this war a quiet, thoughtful sort of person, a college grad, ...... but after seven months in the bush.... civilized trappings had somehow been crushed under the weight of the simple daily realities." (pg. 50) Here, even O'Brien realizes that he has changed. Seven months ago, he was scared, unexperienced, and innocent. After war, he now sees a side of hatred.

"Still smiling, Azar flicked an eyebrow and started snapping his fingers. It wa sa tic of his." (pg 201) So O'Brien asked everyone if anyone would help him to get revenge on Jorgenson. Everyone thought it would be a bad idea, except Azar (surprise, surprise). Though everyone told O'Brien that it would be a bad idea, he still went for it. His inner feeling of revenge and hatred was obviously stronger than his feeling of guilt and forgiveness.

I can see the distinct differences of O'Brien's character in "On the Rainy River" and "the Ghost Soldiers." The war has changed him and his near death experienced has scarred him.

The Heart in Conflict

I've actually been reading this new series and the first book is called Marked. It's basically a book about human beings turning into vampires if they get "marked" (which is just another word for being chosen). The protagonist, Zoey, is marked to become a vampire and now has to attend a new school specifically for vampires. Being only a first year, Zoey is slowly getting accustomed to this new way of life. Only after a couple of days, her mark changes into something huge, something only mature vampires can accomplish. All she ever wanted was to fit in, and now she's undergoing these drastic changes. Many people start expecting great things from her, but she doesn't want to be in the position to make these life-changing decisions. She is then put under pressure to chose whether she'll live her life normally or whether she's going to take on these large responsibilities.

SHORT vs. ESSAY

I think Remember the Titans is a perfect example of a movie that reveals a truth about life. The movie was based upon discrimination and segregtion, and it was so realistic in that the characters in the movie expressed how life was back in the day. The truth is that back then and maybe even today, the ethnicity of a person defined who the person was. Back then, it determined where you lived, where you went to school, and even the ways of transportation. The truth is that many people still fight against discrimination. Many scenes of this movie showcased this idea. For example, though the football players of different color did not get along in the beginning, they eventually began to form a strong bond with one another. Even though they thought everything was going to be okay, others did not accept this idea (such as their friends, families, and the community). This truth was revealed by the life of the football players and the coaches.

THINGS CARRIED

Well, everyone tells me that i carry a "suitcase", but I don't carry much inside.
Before I leave the house, I always make sure I have three things:
1. my wallet
2. my cellphone
3. my keys

I also carry other items as well, but I guess you can say they're not as important to me. I change purses a lot and when I do, I leave the other items behind. Honestly, I don't like to carry that much with me. They feel like a burden to me, and they make my load heavier.

I guess this kinda relates to my life in some ways. I don't like to burden myself with unecessary thoughts or people. I like to get straight to the point, and I want to feel light and free. In another point of view, it could be the reason I procrastinate so often. If I have something that has to get done, but I don't really want to do it, I might put if off in my head so that it doens't become burdensome (i'm not sure if this is a real word). Procrastination is just one of the many bad habits I have.

I also like to keep a couple of items handy.
-chapstick
-lots of markers
-earphones/ipod
-gum

Blahh...

This week has definitely been one of those 'blah' weeks. I haven't watched t.v. for a week and a half, which is a record for me. It's been broken.. who knows why. I asked my dad to fix it, but then decided against it since the SATs are this week...

I miss watching.... The Hills, The City, Cake Boss, The Real Housewives, Real World/Road Rules Challenge.... hahaha I'm such a geek.

I've actually been reading A LOT. The Kite Runner was a great novel. My Spanish teacher let me borrow "A Thousand Spendid Suns." It horrified me. He uses such vivid details, and it seriously gave me nightmares.

I've also been studying a lot. I'm not really used to studying, so i've been having a hard time. I haven't had much homework this week, which is a big surprise. Maybe God told them not to give as much homework because he knows how much I've been studying? hehe..

Other than studying and school, a lot more has been happening. I've realized that I create walls towards people. I don't know why.. Each day, my Spanish teacher has a quote on her board. Today it said, "Loneliness is caused because people form walls instead of bridges." What a perfect quote.
Friendship is such an important thing. It shapes you to become who you are, and it teaches you how to form relationships. I don't think i've been a good friend lately, but I'm definitely trying to improve. And a very special sorry to someone.. if you're reading this.'
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

The Kite Runner

1. Topics in the Kite Runner:
-Role of Women: The role of women seemed very small compared to men.The main character, Amir's mother dies while giving birth to him, and then Hassan's mother is not very active in his life. From my own research, I found out that women have a very limited role in daily life in Afghanistan. In the book, this idea may have been implied by the small roles they had.


-Betrayal: To me, betrayal was shown during the scene in the dark alley, when Hassan was attacked by Assef and his 'gang'. This topic was also expressed when Amir hid the money and watch in Hassan's home and blamed him for stealing those items. I think the book implies that no matter how close two people may be, betrayal can happen, and it can ruin a strong relationship.


-Brothers: Though Amir and Hassan did not know they were half brothers, they shared many memories together and cared for one another. Hassan truly treated Amir as his brother, and Hassan was there for Amir when he needed his company. In the novel, even though Amir and Hassan felt they couldn't be together physically, emotionally, they still felt a special bond. They didn't go a day without thinking about each other and in the end, they were linked by blood. In the end, Amir felt like it was his duty to take care of Hassan's son, because they were brothers.



-Guilt-hidden guilt vs. open guilt: Throughout a majority of the novel, Amir is filled with guilt because of the incident with Assef and Hassan. He didn't tell anyone what happened that day, and hid his guilt, because he was so ashamed of what he did not do. Towards the end of the story, Rahim Khan tell Amir that he knows what happened that day. Rahim Khan tells Amir that he can still be good again, and Amir strives for that goal. In the end, Amir feels 'free' from guilt, and it shows that having open guilt rather than hidden guilt frees him of that guilt he held in the first place.

-Redemption: The guilt that he carried for so long has taken a toll on Amir. He tries to redeem himself by proving that he is good once again for his own sake and to make his father proud.

-Exodus: Exodus was expressed when Amir and his father escaped Afghanistan during the war. They went to America to start a fresh new start. Amir wanted to forget about the past, while his father was saddened to leave his home country behind.


-Fathers & Sons- patriarchal society: Patriarchal society is very common in Afghanistan, which is why the main focus in the beginning of the story is based around the relationship between Amir and his father. Amir is constantly trying his hardest to please his father, and his father is a little disappointed because his son does not carry the same traits as himself.


-Class Distinction: this topic was expressed throughout the entire novel. Amir was often teased by peers because he played with a Hazara. In the Afghan society, it's unheard of to be around people of different beliefs and tradtitions. Hassan and his father, Hazaras, were workers for Pashtuns, Amir and his father.


2. Style-
-Parallelism:
The author uses parallelism particularly when he speaks of Amir and Baba. I think this is to show the similarities and also the differences between the two. In Afghanistan, father and son relationships are strong, and in the novel, the parallelism the author uses emphasizes that relationship.

-Character Foils: Amir and Hassan were a pair of character foils. While Hassan readily stood by Amir, Amir himself did not do the same for Hassan. Another pair may be Baba and Rahim Khan. Baba was troubled by many events in his past, and sometimes took that regret and took it out on Amir, while Rahim Khan was more calm and understanding.


-Foreshadowing: The first time foreshadowing is shown is when the author tells us the first words spoken by Amir and Hassan. Looking back, it kind of seems as if Hassan was a loyal friend to Amir, while Amir wanted to gain the approval of Baba.


-Flashback: Amir has flashbacks of the day that Hassan and Ali left his house. It fills Amir with guilt, and it shows that Amir really did care for Hassan. He also has a flashback of the day he won the tournament of flying kites, in which Hassan was a part of. Another flashback that he had was the day Hassan was attacked. Because of these flashbacks, he is reminded of Hassan and the impact he had on his life.

-Positives and negative aspects of the writing:

Positive: It was amazing how vivid the details of each scene was. I truly felt as if I were there with him. It takes an amazing writer to capture the atmosphere of settings that took place long ago.

Negative: Some scenes seemed to drag on. For example, the scene with Sohrab and how long the adoption process was took a lot of time, when I knew that Sohrab was going to eventually end up with Amir in America.

3. Settings:
-1933: The year Baba was born, and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan.
Place: Afghanistan
-March 1981: when Baba and Amir were traveling away from home in the time of war.
Place: Afghanistan, Kabul, Pakistan
1980s: The time period Baba and Amir first moved to America.
Place: Fremont, California
-Summer of 1983: The year Amir graduated from high school (he is 20 yrs old).
-June 2001: Amir recieves a phone call from Rhaim Khan, telling him to come to Pakistan.

4. Minor Characters:

-Rahim Khan: Rahim Khan is a close friend of Amir's father, Baba. He was active throughout Amir's childhood and was played the role of the father figure that Amir never had. He showed Amir love and provided him with the father that he never had during his childhood.

-Assef: Assef was the leader of the 'pact' that harassed Hassan. Assef remained in Amir's mind, and by beating Amir during the battle between the two, Assef 'freed' Amir of the guilt that he felt for so many years.

-Ali: ali was Hassan's father and was the housekeeper for Baba and Amir. Though he was handicapped, Baba remained loyal to him. Ali showed Amir love and affection as he would his own son. Ali was a loyal friend to Baba and had much respect for him. Though he was Baba's servant, Baba saw Ali as his friend and companion.

-Soraya: soraya was Amir's wife. Though Amir felt as if he could not be loved because of they sin he committed, Soraya proved him wrong. Though Soraya was ashamed of her past, she was truthful to Amir, and she was forgiven. Eventually Amir did the same, and she was much loved by Amir because he was not familiar with a woman loving him and vice-versa.

-Sohrab: Sohrab was Hassan's son. Amir went through much suffering to bring him to America. During these hard times, Sohrab was a constant reminder of Hassan, and Amir was reminded of all that Hassan did for him through his son. Amir wanted to pay Hassan back, so he adopted Sohrab as his own. Through the physical and emotional traits that Sohrab inherited from his father, Amir will never forget Hassan.

5. Symbols:

-Kite: Flying kites was extremely popular in Afghanistan. Kite fighting was painful, and many people were left with scars. Even though there was much pain involved, the triumph of winning was far greater than the pain. The kite symbolizes endurance.

-Slingshot: Hassan was incredible at the slingshot. He used it to save Amir and in the end, Sohrab saved Amir with a slingshot, just like his father. The slingshot symbolizes loyalty and courage.

Baba's House: Baba's house was very large. He was a wealthy man, and many people help the upmost respect for him. This is where much of Amir and Hassan's childhood was spent. The house symbolizes security and protection.

Harelip: Hassan's harelip may have been just a birth defect, but it held a much greater meaning. Hassan was known for his harelip, and though Baba 'got it fixed', he was still remembered by it. When Amir was fighting with Assef, Amir's lip split just like Hassan's birth defect. This reminded Amir of all the times Hassan stood up for him, and was removed of his guilt. The harelip symbolized the guilt that was removed from him.

Sohrab: To me, Sohrab was a symbol of the 'good' that Amir wanted to achieve. Though he didn't help Hassan in a time of need when he was younger, he was now going to help Hassan now by taking care of his son.

Thanksgiving Break

I've really needed a break from school to really start on my college apps and to study for my upcoming SATs. I'm really starting to feel the pressure of college. My parents have such high expectations of me, but I'm not sure if I can meet up to their standards. Hopefully, all of my hard work will pay off this Saturday.

I read the Kite Runner during the break, and I finished it about a day. I couldn't put the book down! I have to say, this is the first book that has made me cry. It was so real, and I felt as if I was actually there with the characters.
I summarized the whole book and told the story to my mom. Then, she started to cry too! haha..

My Thanksgiving was pretty good. The food was incredible, but I think i gained about 10 lbs...
I watched New Moon... again! and I seriously will never get tired of staring at Taylor Lautner (I'm still Team Edward though!). hehe

Hopefully this week will be great...and I hope everyone else has had a wonderful, relaxing break!