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?