Final Thoughts about Blogging and Leaving Home

I've only been blogging for a few months. I came to this course 6 weeks later. I enjoyed blogging a lot. I think it is important to blog and analyze what you read. It was fun connecting to the stories from my personal experience. And, I liked reading other people's blogs- how their opinion is different than mine.

Blogging made me read the stories, if it wasn't for blogging- I wouldn't read the book Leaving Home. I refuse to read what I don't have to. So, it was a good way to force me to read.

And, I read Thy's message. I didn't realize every story related to having to leave home. She makes a good analyze on that. I do agree. And, everyone needs to leave home at some point in their life so they can learn how to be more open to stuff. And learn how to be independent.

I like to have these blogs, and I will keep them. And, I don't know what I will do now because I want to add more blogs later. But, we will see what happens. I would like to write and express my feelings- but I feel like noone reads my blogs- only you Sharon.

Thanks Sharon, for providing blogs. It's a great way to express and analyze from Leaving Home. My mother read my blogs she said she liked them! =D

-In addition, I took Linguistic class- and I learned that I have NO native language. because I grew up SEE- and SEE isn't a language. So, for that blog- I have no native language- I just have ASL fluency. That's all I am =D

(Again, I posted this at 6:50PM. UGH! Computer time wrong)

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

I read Recitatif by Toni Morrison. The picture on the left side is a picture of her. I looked up on the internet to see what Recitatif means. It is a style of musical between a song and an ordinary speech. For more information visit this website. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recitatif


There were two eight years old girls that met each Twyla and Roberta. One of them was white, the other was black. (They were like salt and pepper).I wasn't sure which was which. Race color doesn't matter to me. I assume that Twyla is the narrator of the story. They both got F's in school. Twyla got F's because she couldn't remember what she read. Roberta got F's because she couldn't read and she didn't listen to the teacher.


I thought, first of all they are 8 years old. When I was 8 I was having fun in school, not worrying what grades I got. I never knew if I got F's or A's. I didn't know I was being graded. School was like a "play place" for me at the age of 8. I don't think 8 years old children should be worried if they get F's. They are young, it's time for them to enjoy their childhood- not worry oh I got F's. And I thought that was great they were being exposed to different races- even if I don't think it matters what color skin we are. But, the reason why I don't think color skins matter is because I see different type of people everyday. I am used to it, it's good to expose to young children.

It just shocks me at the fact they are 8 years old and they are already calling a mute kid a dummy. That won't be acceptable for me when I see kids do that. The other children in the orphange parents were dead. But, these two girls parents were still alive.

Twyla and Roberta met each other again later in life and Twyla asked Roberta if she could read. She picked up a menu and started reading off it. That makes me think, that I should not judge how people look like now- just from what I remember when they were younger. A girl today still hates me because I hitted her when I was 5 years old. People change when they get a lot older- and she is still mad at me about that- immature. Whatever!

Roberta smoked and did drugs. But Twyla worked at a restaurant.

The point of this story is that children should be exposed to different type of people, so children can learn later in life that different races don't make a difference. We are all humans and go through different experiences.

(By the way, I posted this at 11:15PM- my blogs always say I post my blogs like 7 hours before I really post it)

Little Saigon & Zelzah: A Tale From Long Ago

I read a poem called Little Saigon written by David St. John. I will try my best to explain, I don't understand poems well all the vocabulary they use. A mother sent her two kids on a boat to America. She told the character in the story who was 14 years old to take care of her little sister name Mai Chi. They didn't get to shower for 10 days, and they didn't have much food.

I know a family who won't let her kids eat more when they are still hungry. She only feeds them a little. It really touches me hard, it's sad. I felt bad for these kids, I always gave them my food- and I would make them food and give them a lot. Kids are innocent, they should be able to get fed everyday, and showers. Finally, a fishermen carried them on his ship and gave them blankets, showers, etc.

Ngoc Be and Mai Chi were waiting for their mother to come to California, until one day the Aunt Kahnh told them that their mother died in a storm. I can't imagine going through life with both my parents being gone. I would have to take care of my two little sisters, and I would have to stand strong in front of them. I can't imagine. I know a few friends who go through that in life.

Again, like I've said I tried my best to explain the poem. I don't understand it fully in details- but I got the basic idea. The other story I've read is called Zelzah: A Tale From Long Ago written by Norma Fox Mazer. There were five sisters in the story- The oldest to the youngest is Ruth, Zelzah, Shulamith, Anna, and then Sara is the youngest. Zelzah is the quiet one, and she always wonder about the names her mother gave her and her sister. For example- Anna means "grace" but she was clumsy with one leg shorter than the other. For Shylamith, her name mean "peacefulness" but she wasn't peaceful. The meaning of their names didn't seem to match for who they really were.

The five sisters slept together in a large double bed. I have my own bed, and I wouldn't want my sisters to sleep with me. My sisters always sleep with me in my bed, they have their own beds. But when, I come home from college- they miss me so much and I only let them sleep in my bed with me because I love them. But, really I like to sleep in my own bed alone. It's more comfortable. I can't imagine having to sleep with someone everyday, (and that's exactly why I am not getting married. Haha)!

Anyways, this story isn't supposed to be funny- I went off the subject. Back to Shulamith, who always tell each sister where they should sleep. I wouldn't like a sister telling me where to sleep. She is the middle child, and I think that is interesting to see that the middle child has that type of personality, to demand her sisters what to do. And, it's not like they sleep together because they love each other. They have to, because the parents can't afford to buy more beds, or a bigger house for more room.

That is sad, the family lives in a one big room which is their house. The bed was in a corner of the room. The house only contained that bed, a high dish cupboard, two wooden wardrobes, a scrubbed wooden table and chairs, several metal trunks with rounded tops and leather straps, a stove, and their parent's bed. They came from a poor family.

Ruth would clean anything without being told! Shulamith and Zelzah did a bit of everything. Sarah was allowed to play all day long. Zelzah was 9 years old, and he worked on the farm of a elderly Polish couple. Zelzah always walked 3 miles and did a lot of work without complaining. He was well fed. Her parents began to talk about her future. They wanted Zelzah to get married. Shulamith seemed jealous, she got mad at Zelzah and said "why did momma have you before me? I want to have my own bed to sleep with a man."

Later that summer their Aunt Hannah came to America- just like in the last story (poem) Little Saigon- where the two girls were sent to America.

Aunt Hannah had 4 sons. One was already married to an American girl. One was still young. Two sons, Jake and Ephraim needed wives. Zelzah is now fifteen and would make a good wife for Jake. He marries his own cousin? Back then people married their own cousins. I can't imagine marring my own cousin. Zelzah was focused on getting an education for herself, then she became a teacher for the third graders. There is soo much details to the story. But, that's the whole point. I don't want to exagerrate! There is too much more information I could add. You just have to read the story for yourself, it's so long! =D Thanks!

On the Rainy River & The Setting Sun and the Rolling World

I read this story called On the Rainy River written by Tim O'Brien. It was about Tim the narrator, he had a story that he never told to his brother or sister, or not to his wife. He didn't tell anyone, he got a draft notice- saying that he must go to the Vietnam war. He didn't want to go to war. He was scared. He just graduated from Macalester College, and he was 21 years old.

He spent the summer of 1968 working at a meatpacking plant in his home of Worthington, Minnesota. He worked as an assembly line- he had to remove blood clots from the necks of dead pigs. Another word for that is declotter. I couldn't be able to do that, that is just disgusting. I can't imagine myself putting my hand in that mess. And, even he goes home and shower- and still can smell the pig on himself. Eww...

Anyways, before he decides to escape to Canada, so he doesn't have to go to war- a man saved his life. When he got out of the car and walked up to the front of the porch of the building- the man opned the door for him. He took him in. His name was Elroy Berdahl, and he was 81 years old. They spent six days together at the Tip Top Lodge. They ate their meals, took long hikes, and played Scrabble, etc all days/nights. Then he decided to go to war, even if he was scared. He is so brave to leave his family, friends, brother and sister for the war. It's so sad, I don't like to think about war. He was a survivor of the war, but he went back home- and it wasn't a happy ending. But, he was a coward- but he did go to war.

I also read The Setting Sun and the Rolling World written by Charles Mungoshi. Nhamo wanted to leave home to start a new life. He knew it was time to move on with his life. His father didn't want him to leave. It's the same experiences I've had based on leaving home when I enrolled for MSSD and when I went to college. I've explained that before. It's hard, but every parent will have to face that with every child they have. Even, when I have children- it will be hard to let them go. I know it will be, and I know I won't want to- but I have to. His father wanted to make sure that Nhamo is sure that he knows what he is doing if he goes on his own. Old Musoni didn't look at his son when he left. That really hit me hard. I didn't know why he didn't look at his son, was he too sad- or?? He just had to face with the fact that his son was leaving...

It does connect with On the Rainy River written by Tim O'Brien, because the son had to leave to go to war. It is the same concept with Nhamo, he had to leave his home to start his life.

Connecting Beautiful & Cruel And Trip in a Summer Dress

I read Beautiful & Cruel written by Sandra Cisneros. The narrator Sandra, thinks she is an ugly girl. She has negative attitudes towards herself. I didn't know who Nenny was, but I assume she is a friend of Sandra. Sandra thinks Nenny is a beautiful girl with preety eyes. Nenny said she won't wait for a husband to come and get her. She wants to do everything on her own.

I think some people who are preety, and rather do everything on their own- are egos. They think they are better than everyone. They don't need anyone else to come in their life to tell them what to do. This story is short, but I think the lesson of the story was that some people who are beautiful aren't worth our time. But, in my opinion, I've met many beautiful people and they aren't stuck-ups. I am friends with many of them, and they are cool people. I never judge people based on their looks. And every individual can be preety in every way. Noone is ugly.

I also read Trip in a Summer Dress written by Annette Sanford. It is opposite of Beautiful & Cruel. Annette went to Eureka to get married to Bill Richards in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Her mother had Annette at 15 years old. And, Annette had her first kid Matthew at 15 years old, but Annette wasn't married. Bill thinks Matthew is Annette mother's son. But Annette called Matthew her brother because her parents took care of him for her. Her mother probably thought she wasn't mature enough to take care of her own kid.

Everyone probably is thinking- she is too young to have a kid. It is true, but people can and have survived through it. I do believe a 15 years old can be a responsible mother, anyone can do it- if they really care. For example, my mother was pregnant at 15 and had me when she was 16 years old. She was still in high school. But, my grandmother took care of me when my mother went to school. But, my mother always called me her daughter- and she took care of me when she came home from school. Then when I was 3 years old, after my mother graduated high school- she moved out of her house and took me. She raised me the right way, even if she was a young mother. She can do it, I believe Annette could do it too. But, her parents did not teach Annette that she could be the mother and do it! I think that is wrong for her to think of her son as her brother. The only thing Annette did was name him Matthew. Annette left Matthew when he was 6 years old, and she was going to miss his birthdays. Matthew was crying and he was sad to see his "sister" leave.

Annette met a woman on the bus and she told her that she had a son at home. I would be that woman who said "why didn't you bring him?" I think Annette should just move on with life and start accepting that she has a son. She should of brought him to the wedding. I think that is sad that she left him at home. That is not what a mother should do with their own kid, it doesn't matter if you're 15. You made the decision to have a kid. I am just thankful that my mother, even if she was 15, she kept me and called me her daughter. I couldn't imagine being called her sister. I honestly wouldn't mind having a kid right now, even if im in college. I love kids- I can and will live my life with kids all the way.

English Language is Biased?

I read this article called Bias & Language (Part 2) written by Lowe and Graham. Some people think our English language is biased. For example, some people assume some of the words we say, we mean men. For example, a doctor- people assume the doctor is a man. Some people don’t even notice that English is biased. Biased build in for men is called “andocentric.” Why do people think that English has been built by men? I think it’s because they had more power back then. For example, they could vote before women could. In a traditional family, men are the head of a household in a family.

Some of us are underrepresented in English, such as people with disabilities or people with illness. There are more varieties of ways people are identified by the language we use. For example, I am a deaf person myself. But, the hearing world thinks it’s ok to use the terminology “hearing-impaired.” But, most people in the Deaf culture think it’s more polite to say just Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

I also read an article called Power & Language- Part 3. Everyone gets that feeling where they can picture things in their mind, but can’t convey what they are picturing in words. It is hard sometimes. I do believe language can affect our thinking, because we can analyze languages by the grammar structure and vocabulary that we use. Every language has their own grammar structure. And, in English there are many different words we can use for one word. For example, if you want to say someone is sad- you can also say someone is gloomy. It will still have the same picture in your mind, but has different words- but has the same meaning.

Linguists believe that language and thought are “interdependent.” That means that the language and thoughts of words are separated. They can function alone. We always say what we are thinking, and we have to think to understand and use language. If you explain something to someone else, you often can understand what you are explaining and understand it better.
People who are involved in debates or involved in advertising things use repetitions, alliterations, and onomatopoeia in their speeches so their speeches are more persuasive. Alliteration means you start a lot of words with the same letters. For example, Sally saw something sitting still. Onomatopoeia is when you use two words that are similar in a sentence.

What is euphemism? It is used by media, politicians and other people in power to manipulate the way they present information. I encourage you to read this article for more information. It has a lot of interesting information about how language has been influenced on how we think.

Dawn by Tim Wynne-Jones

I read Dawn written by Tim Wynne-Jones. A thirteen years old boy name Barnsey rode on a bus to visit his grandma for Christmas. He was worried that he would sit by a weird person on the bus. What I didn't understand was why Barnsey's mother ripped a $20 and gave half to the bus driver then the other half to Barnsey.

Barnsey sat next to a girl that had nine earrings, nose rings, and had a Mohawk. But, they became good friends even if they liked different kind of music. Barnsey is 13 years old, and Dawn is 20 years old. They talked to each other on the bus, and became friends. It makes me think of a quote "Don't judge people by the cover." That reminds me of a plane ride to Washington, D.C. A girl who sat next to me started talking to me, I said I can't hear- I gestured- do you want to write. She said sure, and we started writing back and forth the whole flight, and became friends. We even gave each other our e-mail addresses. It was weird.

I was surprised that a 20 years old girl didn't mind becoming good friends with a 13 year old boy. I was counting how many years apart one of my good friends is from me. As I was counting, it is the exact same years between Barnsey and Dawn. They are 7 years apart. One of my good friend, who is a CODA, is 7 years older than me. The ages 13 and 20 look like a lot of years apart, but compared to 18 and 25- it doesn't seem that many years apart. But, interesting... Yes, Renee my good friend- has influenced my life. I liked the fact that I had a good friend older than me, I tend to hang out with older people, but that's me. She has influenced my life, because I know she is a person who I can go visit if I want to get away from home. And, she has 4 children- I love kids. Her house is like my 2nd home.

I didn't really understand the point of the ending of the story. But, I think the lesson that the author was trying to tell us is to not judge people by the cover. It doesn't matter what people look like. They could still be a cool person in the inside. We need to stop going out and judging people by their looks.

Bad Influence

I read the story Bad Influence written by Judith Ortiz Cofer. It was about a girl name Rita and and and her best friend Meli. They both always told their parents that they were sleeping at each other's house, while they really went to a boy name Joey's house home and slept there. Another boy name Johnny was there too. Then one day Meli's mother got an heartburn; she thought it was an heart attack, so Meli's mother called Rita's house for Meli. And, Rita's mother said that Meli wasn't home. I knew the feelings the mothers had right now, they were very scared. They didn't know where Meli or Rita was.

After that, they were found at the boy's home, Rita was given two choices to go to Puerto Rico (she is from Puerto Rico)- to visit her grandparent's house or go to a Catholic girls' retreat. Rita choose to go to her grandparent's house. She didn't want to go anywhere, but she choose to go to visit her grandparents. She only sees them once a year.

So when she went to their house, her grandmother thought she had asthma. She also gave her coffee and told her to drink it while it's warm.

I remember going to one of my friend's house, she's from Virginia- moved to VA from Puerto Rico. I went to her house one day last Feburary (2008). Her family were a very caring family and when I went to their house- they were always offering me food. I ate when I was hungry, but there were times they would ask me if I wanted food again and again. I kept on saying, no thanks, I am not hungry. And, I was really not hungry, they asked me like every 2 hours do you want food. So, I did eat too much that that weekend I was at her house, and became sick because I wasn't used to eating that much. And, her mother was like- sorry. I said no, it's ok. I felt bad that I got sick at their house. It was awful, but her family was very nice. And, one day her family came to VA from Puerto Rico to celebrate my friend's 15 birthday. It was my first experience. It was very interesting, she was becoming a woman and got her first glass high heels from her father.

Anyways, Rita went for a long walk to the beach with her cousin. Rita thought the beach was beautiful. She met Angela at the beach, and her grandfather invited Angela for dinner. Angela and Rita talked in Rita's room, and they agreed to visit each other as much as possible. Rita told Angela about Johnny Ruiz even if she hasn't thought about him for a while. Then, Rita said "mala influencia?" Mala influencia is a Spanish word for Bad Influence, and it was used in the story many times- so my assumption is that's why the story was called Bad Influence.

At the end of the story, Rita's mother told Rita that her friend Meli went to the retreat and she loved it. Rita didn't want her mother to think her "vacation" was fun. It was supposed to be a "punishment." But, it is a good thing she went to visit her grandparents. It is important to visit your family, even if you think it will be boring. It is worth it, your grandparents will appreciate it too! I used to like sleeping at my grandparent's house all the time, and I sometimes regret not spending the night there. But, important I go out for a lunch or dinner with my grandma to her favorite place, Chinese restaurant.

But the point is, that Rita and Mela enjoyed their punishment. That is funny in someway! =D Mela liked the retreat, and and won't be at Central High with Rita. I guess that is the "punishment" for Rita because they are the ones who went to the boys house in the first place- that caused Meli to go to the girls retreat, and she liked it and now won't be going to school with Rita. But, Meli and Rita still will get together in September!

The Circuit

I read The Circuit written by Francisco Jimenez. It was about a family that moved to California from Mexico. As the father was pulling out of the driveway to leave the house, Francisco took a last look at the house before they drove off. The tone of his voice was depressed and sad. He was sad to leave his "home" where he is comfortable.

That reminded me when I was growing up I moved in 6 different houses while growing up, but those 6 different houses were within 6 blocks away from each other. Yes, it was ridiculous. We moved right across the street, then a few years later my parents wanted to move in a different house 3 blocks away, then move again 2 blocks back to where we were in another house. I can't imagine all the boxes they had to take in the car. They were poor so they probably couldn't afford a U HAUL to bring all their stuff. All I had to do was walk back and forth within 2 blocks to move my stuff to another house while growing up.

But I can relate to his experience by when I left home for High school at Model Secondary School for the Deaf. My mother cried and cried the morning before I left for my plane from Nebraska to Washington, D.C. I knew I was going to miss home, and when I arrived to DC I missed home already. I missed my family and everything. I got homesick.

The family worked in the field for grape season. They worked outside in the hot temperature where it was about 100 degrees. I hate to work outside especially when it's that hot. I can't imagine- everyday~ And, it is important to drink your water when you work outside. Anyways, the family spoke Spanish with each other.

When the grape season was over, Francisco went back to school. When he entered the principal's office, he heard a woman say "May I help you?" He was shocked, he didn't say a word. He hasn't heard English for a long time. He forgot how to speak back in English, he hasn't used it since. He always used Spanish with the family.

I can relate to this because when I am at Gallaudet I use ASL. I refuse to speak here. ASL is the language that is used on Gallaudet's campus. I use ASL all the way, but after months when I go home to visit my family. I forget how to voice. It happens during the summer and semester break. It's crazy, but I have fun going back and forth from my languages.

I also used to know a lot of Spanish. One of my best friend who is 4 years younger than me, she has a Mexican family. I always went to her house, and I was so fascinated in learning Spanish. I learned so much from going to her house- and learning Spanish from her family. She had older brother my age and she had a baby sister. One day- her family decided to move to Oklahoma from Nebraska because her father needed a job there. I just went into tears, I had noone else to speak Spanish with. My motivation of learning Spanish went down, and because of my sadness of my best friend gone, I forgot most of my Spanish I've learned. I regret it, but I was too sad- I had noone to speak spanish to. I felt there was no point in knowing Spanish anymore, but I know if I see her parents in the future- they will be shocked that I can't communicate with them in Spanish. So, when this boy went into the classroom- the teacher asked the boy to read the book. He couldn't read it, he forgot. I hate to think about this, I hate the fact that he knew English before, but forgot. He can't help it- he had noone to continue speaking English with.

I felt inspired when the teacher was willing to sit down with him during their lunch period so he can improve his reading in English. I wish I had someone to sit with me to learn Spanish. It just made me think about I've lost one of my life dreams. I do regret it very much. I can't believe how much memories come in my mind just by analyzing a story. It brings so much sadness to me. Wow, while reading the story I didn't feel any sadness- but I realized after analyzing it- it just brings so much feelings to me. Wow!

The Hands of My Father

Wow, I just came into this class. This is my 6th blog (your guys 10th blog)! I am getting the hang of getting used to blogs right now. But first of all, my weakness is poems. I have a hard time analyzing and understanding poems. So, I will try my best to explain what I understood from this poem “The Hands of My Father” by Christopher Jon Heuer from Wisconsin.

The first line “Not once did my father sign to me (Heuer).” It reminds me of my father. He did sign to me, but not much. He’d rather speak to me. I want him to learn ASL, but he doesn’t show any motivation that he wants to learn.

This father in the story doesn’t know sign language for his Deaf son (I assume he is Deaf because of the title and the terminologies that they used in the poems). He was a farmer and always works on the tractor. And, he listened to the wind and thunder, and the moaning of cattle. The father seemed to ignore his son, and care about for what he needs. He was too focused on his work outside.

The son seems like he wished that he could communicate with his father. I think connection between a parent and a child is very important. Communication is very important too. Then, when his father passed away, he realized that his father did care about him. He knew that his father regretted not talking to him. He knew he loved him so much.

This makes me think about life is too fast. You need to live today (everyday) as there is no tomorrow. You never know what will happen. Anything could happen. Just make sure you tell your loved ones you really do love them. Talk to them just as if you wouldn’t see them tomorrow. I always try my best to tell my family I do love them every day.

Rules of the Game by Amy Tan

As I was reading Rules of the Game by Amy Tan, it brings memories back from when I was a young girl with two younger sisters. This story is about a young six years old Chinese girl name Waverly Place Jong (named after a street). Her family called her Meimei.

She asked her mother what is Chinese torture. She said a boy in her class said that Chinese people do Chinese torture. While the mother was doing Meimei’s hair, she told her that Chinese people do many things such as business, medicine, and painting. “Not lazy like American people” (Tan, p.40). I didn’t like the mother’s tone with that sentence, American people are lazy. Yes, some American people are lazy, but she made it sound like all Americans are lazy. I definitely don’t think that is true. Not all are lazy. I have a busy life, and I am a college student. My parents work, and my sisters go to school. For one, we are not lazy people. The mother needs to learn how to talk to her daughter in a better way. I don’t want our future people (those young children, will be adults someday), to pick up that negative attitude. Time to change!

I played chess once, and I couldn’t grasp the concept of how to play that game. But, I did play games with my two younger sisters such as Clue, Guess Who, Checkers, and Candy Land. Haha, I know Candy Land, a little kid’s game. But I grew up babysitting younger kids, and I always play board games with them. With older people I play cards. And, I guess it can parallel to life, because in Chess you have to take a chance to move the pieces. But, in life you have to take chances and risks.

The mother wanted her daughter to win the game. That will be a good life tool for the girl, because she will learn how to take life seriously. Like my parents encouraged me to do well in school, etc. It makes the person I am today, by being serious in college. I thank my parents, however, I somewhat disagree in forcing a kid to win a game. It will teach them how to be selfish in my opinion. And, plus it’s just a game. Not everyone can win. I have two perspectives I can see in this story.

From A Gift of Laughter by Allan Sherman

Has anyone ever created a gift for someone you love?

While I was reading “A Gift of Laughter” written by Allan Sherman, this boy, Robbie, made a drawing of a weird creature for his father. He was very excited to give this drawing to his father. When the father saw the picture he told his son “is that what you interrupted me for? Couldn’t you wait? I’m talking to your mother about something important!” (Pg. 29) When I read that, I thought that was a rude comment. Personally, I don’t think that is a right thing to say to a young son like Robbie. Robbie filled up with tears, and said to his father “but it’s your birthday Saturday!” (Pg. 29) - and then he ran upstairs to his room and slammed his door. I don’t think that was fair to Robbie because he was trying to make his father happy. And when he tried to make his father happy- Robbie’s emotions changed into like it was not worth it to draw the picture. It will make him think about not to draw a picture for his father next time.

I can’t say that I went through the exact same experience Robbie did. But, I always make birthday cards for my family members. My family members did appreciate that I gave them a card. I don’t know what my parents did with the birthday cards I gave them. But, I know that my grandparents would put their birthday cards on their refrigerator. It made me happy when I went over to their house and saw the card that I made for them on their refrigerator.

Robbie got a football for his grandmother because he thought she wanted a football for the party. When his mother saw the football, she told him why did you get your grandmother a football. She doesn’t want one for the party. She wanted a fruit bowl for the party. I don’t think that the mother should have said that to Robbie. She should have just left it as that. I agreed with how the grandmother took the football. She thanked him even if that was not exactly what she wanted. She knew that Robbie loved her as his grandmother.

I think a child deserves to be thanked for what they do. If a child wants to make a birthday card for their father, for example in Robbie’s situation, why didn’t the father instead take five minutes to look at the picture and say thanks to his son than to make him feel like it wasn’t worth his time to make the picture. Parents discussions are important, but what can be more important than taking a picture that a son has drew for your birthday?

Learning my Native Language

Susan is a woman who is partly Deaf. She practiced speaking while growing up, then went to Gallaudet University to learn American Sign Language. Now, she teaches hearing students and tells them that she is hard of hearing- so her students can ask her to repeat what she says if they don't understand her.

I became profoundly Deaf at nine months old. I grew up oral with using Signing Exact English; I went to speech class up till middle school. Then, I learned American Sign Language during my middle school and high school years. During my senior year at Model Secondary School for the Deaf, I learned and picked up a lot of ASL there. I wanted to continue using my ASL, so I decided to come to Gallaudet.

And, I don't know if I really have a native language? I am confused, I thought a native language was a language you are born with and know it well. I can speak English and write English well but 100% accurately, not. I can sign ASL well! A lot of people tell me I sign like I've grown up with ASL. People thought ASL was my native language. Do I really have a native language? Please tell me what you think.

Dancer

Hello! I read this story called "Dancer" by Vickie Sears in a novel called "Leaving Home" written by Hazel Rochman and Darlene Z. McCampbell.

This girl name Clarissa is a five years old girl who learned how to dance. First of all, that girl had some dresses that were too short. She didn't have the money to get clothes to fit her. She lived with her third foster home. She didn't trust anyone; and she didn't talk very much.

She explained about her nightmare of how she was being chased by a man who was going to kill her with a knife. She was at the school, and watching other people dance, and at first she was not interested. Molly is a character in the story who has won some dance contests. Clarissa watched Molly- how she danced and she watched all of her moves. Then, Clarissa watched all of the rest of the dancers.

Then the next day, Clarissa learned how to tap her feet to some of the dances. She learned some moves. Then she got some tapes to listen to and practiced outside on her own. Then, when she came back to the school, Clarissa wanted to dance. Molly knew Clarissa wanted to learn how to dance because she knew that Clarissa was practicing on her own, because she was improving in her dancing. Molly made a dress for Clarissa because she was going to need one.

My thoughts about this story is, WOW! Wow, a five year old girl has all that motivation to learn how to dance. She learned quickly!

People who have dreams that they really want to achieve practice a lot and become good at what they want to become. It can be anything such as becoming a great football player, become a great dancer, cooker, etc. I've always wanted to be a good writer. I was motivated in learning the English's grammar. I want to become a teacher, so I practice by helping my friends and classmate with their homework.

I believe everyone can reach their dreams as long as they try hard, and not procrastinate! Those people who don't have goals in life- I don't think they will succeed in today's world because I believe you have to have goals to achieve to succeed in today's world. How can you suceed without goals?

Post 1: Introduction

Hello,

My name is Samantha Lee. I am from Nebraska and came to Gallaudet via MSSD. I have two younger sisters I love. I wouldn't mind having another baby sister! They are now 11 and 12 years old. They both go to South Sioux City, Middle School.

I want to explain, I grew up in a mainstream program from Kindergarten all the way up till my junior year of high school. I grew up oral and Signing Exact English (SEE). When I enetered in the 7th grade, one of the interpreters told me there was a Deaf club in Iowa, which was near my home. I decided to go to Deaf club one night.

Oh boy, the moment I entered the building into this room, I couldn't believe what I saw. I saw a room full of people communicating in American Sign Language (ASL). I was overwhelmed; I could not understand most of the stuff they were saying. I went home that night, and I cried to myself. I felt like I didn't fit in today's world. I didn't fit in the hearing world; the communication was hard. I didn't fit in the deaf world either; I didn't know ASL. But, then I decided about a month later, I will try to go to Deaf club again and learn ASL. I did go to Deaf club once a month, and I started picking up ASL quicker than I ever thought I would! And, during this time- I knew Gallaudet University was for me, but that's another story!

And, during my middle school and high school years- I've always wanted to go to a Deaf school. I was sick of being mainstream- and being the only "Deaf one" in my mainstream school. My dad wouldn't let me go to Iowa School for the Deaf because he said that school is really low education. I accepted that, until after my sophomore year. One summer, I met a girl in St. Louis, Missouri that went to Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) in Washington, DC on Gallaudet's campus. She was in the same grade as me- and I asked my mother if I could please, please go to MSSD. My mother liked the idea of me going to MSSD because it would be a great opportunity for me that I can use before I enter Gallaudet University.

After I left Missouri, I arrived home- I asked my father if I could go to MSSD. His immediate reaction was "NO." But, then after we discussed it for after an hour- after I explained to him- it would be a great experience before Gallaudet. He decided I could go to MSSD after my junior year, but I had to stick with the mainstream school during my junior year because my father wanted to visit Washington, DC before he lets me go. So, after my junior year, we went to Washington DC to visit MSSD. My father liked what he heard about MSSD during open house. He did let me go to MSSD for my senior year. For once in my lifetime, I was so happy I could experience a Deaf school! It was a hard year for me, but that's another story!

Now, I am here at Gallaudet to enjoy another chapter of my lifetime! I am hoping to major in ASL/English Bilingual Deaf Education. And, I would like to become a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI).

My prediction of why we will use blogs is so we can discuss about a topic and write about it! It is used to share opinions and learn from other people's perspective. I love to write and write; I can write forever! (Sorry, if i exaggerate!) I will be writing more blogs later! =D