"Little Saigon" by David St. John and "Zelzah: A tale from long ago" by Norma Fox Mazer

"Little Saigon"

I don’t understand this poetry entirely. I read this poem twice… I feel bit frustrating.


"Zelzah: A tale from long ago"

This story however is amazing. I enjoyed reading this story. This story is about a girl who grew up with 4 other sisters. Their name has meaning. Girl named Zelzah meant Shade-in-the-heat. It’s interesting about their cultures. They are from other country that is very poor. Zelzah was sent to America to be married with one of her cousins. Wounded up didn’t marry with any of them and lived on her own. She studies hard to be a successful student. Whole her life was very excellent. She was very humble and loveable. She is very happy person. No matter what happen, she would laugh. When I read this story, it made me smile. No matter what we did in our daily life. We should be glad that we live to see what is happening to our life.

"On the Rainy River" by Tim O'

"Beautiful & Cruel" by Sandra Cisneros "Trip in a Summer Dress" by Annette Sanford

"Beautiful & Cruel" by Sandra Cisneros

It’s one of ODDEST poetry I ever seen, or was it a really short story. I don’t know. This poem doesn’t make any sense to me; maybe I don’t understand what it trying to tell me. Maybe it’s about jealous; maybe it’s about ugly girl with great personality and beautiful girl with “not so great” personality. When I read this poetry, I thought one thing. Women have a power to decide whichever man she wants, she could say no to handsome guy in the whole world and go with ugliest guy. Personality is priority to our daily life.

"Trip in a Summer Dress" by Annette Sanford

This story is a bit interesting but at the same time… What is the point of this story? I’m so sorry if I’m being sarcastic today. This story is about a girl who left their family, not only family but her son as well. I’m pretty sure it happens every day. Adopt, giving a birth and pass their child to their own parents because young girl and man can’t take care of their own children. Only solutions to prevent that happen… DON’T EVER HAVE A SEX!!! until they are prepared. Unless they were raped this is completely different story. Sex is so popular now-a-days. According to http://www.irishhealth.com/index.html?level=4&id=13384, many regret having sex too young. “According to the findings from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA), almost one-third of men and one in five women aged 18-24 had sex before the age of 17. Of these, almost 17% of men and 14.5% of women had sex for the first time at the age of 16.” 305,626,462 people in America. Let’s say 1 million are age of 18-24. 170,000 men already had sex at age 17. 145,000 women already had sex at age of 17. Now look at this numbers. Pretty huge numbers huh? Can we stop this from happening? I don’t think so. Why? Everyone loves sex. I know that because I’m one of them. Regret having sex at age of 17? Not really. Regret having son at age of 19? No, never. Will they accepting what is the conclusion after they had a sex? You tell me.
Small fact that I found loonnnnnggggg time ago… there is only 2 type of mammals that sex for pleasure; human and dolphins. Pretty funny huh?

Bias & Language

We are going to talk about Bias and Language today. How they are related is very complicated but well familiar. Something we do daily day of our life without realized what we were thinking and what we had said. “What the hell are you talking about?” let me abbreviating this subject. As for Bias, there is a word; andocentric. Andocentric means centered or focused on men, often to the neglect or exclusion of women. How does this related to Language? Everything we say is based on woman and how we not use word such as lady, woman, girl, and female with words. For example, (one word) Fireman; A person employed to extinguish or prevent fires. We think Fireman is a male who is a person employed to extinguish or prevent fires. When it comes to a woman who work for firefighter. We call them female fireman. That example is a good example meaning of bias.

Language is widely uses today. Six thousand, nine hundred and twelve languages in this world. Researcher still debating whether it comes from image thinking or our language effects image thinking. Linguists often think that thoughts and language are “Interdependent”. What is interdependent? Language and thoughts are depending on each others. Some researcher thinks that language can stand alone. Some researchers think they cannot. Point is that, those who don’t know any kinds of language still can think. They would use their thoughts to image something. To think the image, it doesn’t require a language to support their thoughts. Language helps us to understand the image clearly. Image thinking and language are important to our mind. One to four months old baby doesn’t need words to express what they want. If an infant wants milk, they would cry until they get what they want. They depend on image. Six thousand, nine hundred and twelve languages, they all aren’t based on words. Some of languages are image drawing. Those image drawing is still a language because it effects our thoughts. It’s very complicated how research works. I think they both can work together and separate ways.

"Dawn" by Tim Wayne-Jones

When I read this story, I thought of my son. I wondered how he feels when his parent is divorced. My ex-wife and I divorced when he was two years old. He probably doesn’t understand but I’m pretty sure that he would want to know why when he gets older. I feel that I can relate to Barnsey’s dad feeling and how he been through divorced situations. Divorced is very common now-a-days. Sometime divorced is not something we wanted to do, but it would be better.

Anyway, this story was interesting. I see some happiness, sad, fear, and frustrating. Fear when Barney got on the bus for the first time. Happiness when he met a girl named Dawn. Barney and Dawn shared their same interest in music. Sad when he found out that his parent are getting divorced. Frustrating because he doesn’t understand what is going on. Although, this story has a good ending. They show they would try to understand each other. In this story tells us that Dawn dress like a punk, and gothic look. Barney who is a “normal” person. They sat together and share same interests. They share some laughter. They show a lot of respect. People who are dressed up odd looks shouldn’t be judged. We shouldn’t judge people how they look, and what they do. We should show them respect.

"Bad Influence" by Judith Ortiz Cofer

When I read the first part of paragraph about this story. I thought "hmmm this story is probably talking about the bad influence from one to other." When I’m done reading this story, it was amazing. In this story, they have some Spanish speaking that I do not understand at all. Some of Spanish spoken, I understand clearly based on what they saying. It was very interesting. That’s the most reason why I'd like to learn some foreign language such as Spanish and Japanese.

When I read this story, I thought “that’s typical teenager’s age.” When teenager age come to around fourteen years old, they usually curious and doesn’t understand what we parents are trying to tell them. We try to give them good advices. Some of them will listen, others usually don’t. For those teenagers who don’t listens what parent trying to say. They usually frustrating around their parents. When teenagers frustrating, they don’t see things clearly. Sometimes parent have to let them go and let them learn their lessons. It probably not the best options but it’ll do.

Peer pressure also shows in this story. Peer pressures are most common for teenager age. They would do whatever the friends, parents, even commercials from magazine and television. There nothing we can do about it. We parent just have to be patient and try give all advices we have and hope they would understand in the future. There is a show I saw couples time on MTV called Exiled. Exiled on MTV is talking about a sweet sixteen girl who were very spoiled and very brat. Parents send their kid to other place for one week. They usually realized how hard work they did to keep surviving. When a teenager comes back to their home and they normally thanked their parents for what they did.

They have some their beliefs, and spiritual. We have different thoughts of way to help people, and they all end into one solutions. To help each others, make yourself and others happy.

Again, this story is pretty interesting.

"The Circuit" by Francisco Jimenez

I read this story, and thought "wow that was very sad". This story arent about the circuit, but they are related. This story is about mexican family who moves around and work for random people. They work usually work crop field picking the crops. Types of crops are depends on season. In this story, boy's feeling seems so frustrating, sad, and part of the story were exciting. Frustrated because he'd have to work hard with his brother and father. Sad because he doesnt know most English vocabulary. At the end of story, he was happy because he was able to learn English and was offered to teach music as well. Very sad at very ending, He would have be able to learn how to play music. When he got to his family, he found that they will have to move again. This story is related to circuit because circuit people will never stop moving around, they basically live on the road.

I never experienced that feeling, but I can say that that story was very sad.

"The Hands of My Father" by Christopher Jon Heuer

As I said on previous blog, Poem isn't my thing.

This is also a poem about himself and his father's relationship. His father's life is all about farm. He knew a lot about things related to farm, and how weather effects to farm. Author himself is a deaf boy who can't talk. Sign language is his life. Farming is his father’s life. Author and his father's life are two different paths. I think his father doesn’t appreciated that author was born deaf. His father’s attitude towards author was anger. His father avoids signing language. He refuses to learn sign language, because he doesn’t have time to communicate with his son and focus on farm at the same time. Later in this poem saying that his father regret and wish that he would learn his language, be able to communicate with him. Before he died he told author that he was sorry.

This poem reminds me of my mom. Mom told me her story about her and her parents. Her parents doesn’t happy that my mom became deaf when she was three years old. When my mom grew up, her parents refused to learn sign language, but willing to make a gesture. When my parents got married, her parents were so upset because she married to a deaf man. Later in her life, they told my mom that they were so sorry and was very proud of her.

I believe that parents would regret that they treat their child differently. When they are nearly death, they would apologize their mistakes. So, they would die with peace.

"Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan

When I read this story. I thought it was amazing. Its rare to see a bright girl play chess. Wave-ly Jong learned how to play chess with dictionary. She play chess with her brother, and then older guy from nearby park. She develop playing chess with strategy how to defeat her oppontent. She became a regional chess champion. Later, Her mother became so proud she would walk around and tells everyone that she was her daughter. She was so embarssing, she told her mother how she felt.

"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is" Yoda(Star Wars) The greatest mind of child are truly, innocent mind that child has. Child would go and ask their parents whatever comes to mind of child. I can feel this quote is related to this story. “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack." also from Yoda(Star Wars) To win chess, we'd have to think and play with defense. Playing defense as well as offense, defense will always win. She would play chess with a heart and mind. She work so hard to be a successful chess player.

I know how to play chess properly but I'm not really into it. Chess required alot of mental work. Chess would challenge our mental. With our knowledge, and thinking ahead would help us success in future life. It does applied to our daily life. I would play chess for hell of it. I would even play chess on my laptop if I was very bored and had nothing else to do.

"A Gift of Laughter" by Allan Sherman

When I read this story, I thought of my son. Not because the story itself. It's how my son shows me a love. Sometime I feel that I didn't give him plenty of love, which I should. Sometime a parents forget how innocent kids are. Kids doesn't understand why adult acted that way sometime. Sometime we adults trying to focus on problems rather than what kids trying to show us.

The whole 4 years since I first saw my son came to our world. I love him to death. I wouldn't let anything happens to him. We face problems everyday of our life. We have to try solve them everyday. We show our love to a child, and they will love us in return. A child has innocent mind, but how brillant they are. Kid can give us a greatest joy. Love is the most important to children.

"Dancer" by Vickie Sears

After reading this story, I was amazed. It was about a girl who went from one foster home to another. She was only 4-5 years old. She had problems with dreams every night. Those dreams were not very pleasurable. After her foster parents took her to dance, she fell in love with their dance. She started to dance. Her behavior was getting better. She didn't scream during the night because of her bad dreams. At the end of story, she went to a dance and danced.

I thought, since she is an Assiniboin, she will follow her peers. She feels that she is part of her culture. Dancing is her passion. Music that Indians create can be melodic and soft. It helps calm everyone. Music and Dance are Indians’ Cultures. They have different kinds of music and dance. Every music and dance have their purpose. War, wedding, and weather dance is what their passion. Music and dancing are very popular now-a-days.

I'm 1/8 Cherokee, I know so little about their cultures. Their cultures are very weird and interesting at the same time. Their music calms me because of their drum and singing melody is often soft.

My questions is, where is she now? What does she do for living? What would the best advice she could give to a young foster kids?

"A house of my own" by Sandra Cisneros and "Saturday at the canal" by Gary Soto

First of all, Poems isnt my thing. Blog isnt my ideal of things to do. I'm required to do this thing, because it's part of my grade.

Anyway.........

"A house of my own" by Sandra Cisneros is short and sweet poem. I think it means when started attend college, Everything is on your own. Basically, No more parent's help. If you want to get a good grades, you'll have to work for it. To get good grades, you will have to get help on your own time. You will have to get up and get ready for school on your own time. You make your own decisions. Everything going on with your life is your own success.



"Saturday at the canal" by Gary Soto is also short and sweet poem. I feel the similar to this story. When I was in High School, I got really tired of teacher trying to teach us. I decide to go and talk with principle. I talked to my Principle and see if I can graduate early. Pretty much I got plenty of credits to graduate. They wanted me to attend college after graduate, I applied at Linn State Technology College, and got accepted. I thought everything would be same. I was wrong. I got married, and a son. I realized, "Wow, This isnt high school anymore." I had to find a way to support my family. Be careful what u wish for. Everything isnt go smooth what u been expecting. Be patient, and get much educations you can get.

"Recollections" by Margie English

This story is about Margie English who was born deaf with deaf parents. Her parents decided to send her to oral school to be closer to her family. Margie wasnt very happy at oral school. Her school doesnt allowed her to use sign language. Her parents realized it was a mistake. They decided to move and sent her to Kendall School which is in same campus as Gallaudet University. She loved it. She learn alot of vocabulary. Her great impact when she was in school when her friend read a book. Her friends told her that she CAN read. She graduated at Model Secondary school for the deaf. She also graduated at Gallaudet university with English Bachelor's degree.

I cannot said I feel the same way she felt. I never been to mainstream school. I went Missouri School for the Deaf til I graduated. Although, I went Linn State Technology College. They provide interpreter. Getting educations from teacher with interpreter is not the same as teacher that teaches directly. As of right now I attend Gallaudet University, I feel I get better educations with teacher directly. American Sign Language will always be mine native language. English is my second language, I'll always learn how to write English. English is a bit diffcult for me. I'll always learn how to write English.

"Learning My Native Language" by Susan Stocker

This story is about a girl who was born deaf. she have been struggling understand what people try talking to her. She went to mainstream school where almost everyone making fun of her. Her mother told her to never give up trying to understand and to talk. She went Gallaudet University. Obviously she doesnt happy being there, because the whole deaf envirnoment around her. She realize how deaf people talk, deaf-toned, unappropriate pronouncing speaking. She decided to go other college and worked hard understanding teachers. She became teacher. When school starts on the first day, she would tell her student that she is partly deaf and so her students would understand if she ask them to repeat what they said.

In my opinion, Deaf will always be deaf. Theres no reason for Deaf people trying hard to understanding what hearing people trying to say. We have Sign language, why don't we use it? Its FAR easier to communicating with sign language. Again, its depend on people's perspective.

"The First Day of School" By Jeffery Deaver

http://www.jefferydeaver.com/Short_Stories_/FirstDayOfSchool/firstdayofschool.html

This story was short but AMAZING!

Life can be very complicated. I know some friends who said they would never be a teacher. They hated school so much they didn’t really care about education. Once they went to college, their life CHANGED. They wanted to learn more. They wanted to teach young adults to become better people. When I graduated from high school. I didn’t want to be a teacher. After a few years of life experience, I think it's my turn to teach. I want to teach young adults to be better people. Learning is an opportunity. Advice from friends, coaches, and teachers is well earned. Listen to them.

Introduction

Hello, my name is Jonathan Smoot. I'm 24 years old. I grew up in Brumley, Missouri. I have Deaf parents, one Deaf sister, and one hearing brother. I have an Adorable son name Tristan Smoot. I went to Missouri School for the Deaf. Graduated on May of 2003. I just started attending Gallaudet University. I want to be an American Sign Language teacher.