Christen's English Blog

 Absent 8/30

 Today, we finished reading "Two Kinds" from The Joy Luck Club.  In doing this activity, I learned about the competitiveness within Asian immigrant families, but I also learned how that characteristic can apply to other cultures as well. I liked this activity because I think the book is enjoyable and gives great perspective, in particular with this part of the book, it shows how pressure and demands of an immigrant family may affect a child's way of thinking. On Friday, my family and I will be leaving for the beach, but I'm not very excited about it as we have visited the beach plenty of times before. Instead, I've been quite reminiscent of the concert I went to last week, I've been looking back at the videos I took and wishing I could still be experiencing euphoria. 

 I remember one morning, my mom really wanted me to go to church, and I was forced to go for months prior. But I felt that me going was pointless, it wasn't for me, though I didn't have a choice. So on this day, I expressed to her these thoughts, and as a result, she threatened to ground me if I didn't go. I thought this was absurd and I became overly upset, I argued with her, and she argued back. After much exchange of anger-provoked words, she began to break down as well. As her voice trembled, I started to realize the importance she associated church with. The argument ended with me not going to church that day, and thus, not speaking to one another for a couple of days. Although this wasn't a good outcome, I feel that our relationship has improved since then because of it. I have always been accepting and non-judgmental of other people's beliefs, and I think she's begun to understand and apply that way of thinking towards me. That day we both showed vulnerab...

 Absent

 Absent

 Today we read about the rising population of Asian immigrants in the United States. By reading the assigned document, I learned that in 50 years, Asians will become the largest group of immigrants heading to the U.S., surpassing Hispanics. I disliked the lesson because I find reading about statistics to be boring, though I thought what Americans had to say about immigrants was interesting. Today has been another excruciatingly boring day, but I am excited for Friday to come. 

 Today we read and annotated the poem "I Too" by Langston Hughes. This activity helped me understand the sense of pride African Americans felt amidst them being perceived as inferior in this nation. I liked this activity as the poem enlightens the readers on the negative impact of stereotypes and teaches us to look beyond those misconceptions. Today, I am a little stressed due to my incomplete essay draft for ENGL 1101, which is due this week.