Journal Entry 30: Symbols of Heritage

            I don't really have a lot of things that symbols heritage in my house. Because my family doesn't have any religion, so we don't have religious figures in my house. Not like other people, who has Buddhas in their home, we don't have those kind of things in my home. My mother has a ring and necklace that her mother, who is my grandmother, gave it to her. And she loves it. My father has a painting painted by his business friend gave it to him. On the painting, it has chinese writings on it. It is a very very big painting that my father treasures and puts in my parents' room. But I believe that the heritage of my house is in our mind, in our culture. What my parents teach me are all my heritage. I learn my heritage by looking at my parents, listen to them, and learn form them. When I asked my father what is the most important thing given from his parents to him, he pointed to his brain. Yes, my father is very smart and has a really good brain. And he thanks his parents for giving that to him. So he believes the item of heritage is his brain. I believe the item of heritage is the photos. My mother said whenever she looks at the photos of his dad, she thinks about what he taught her and what he expects from her. My mother's dad, which is my grandfather, died when I was one or two, so I don't really know him. But I know that he is a great man who raised my mother to be a great person too. My mother misses him a lot I know, although she doesn't say it very often. So I believe that the most important thing and the sybol of heritage is the photos in my house.

Journal Entry 29: Your Family Traditions

            In the story Everyday Use, there is a conflict between two visions of what heritage is and purpose it serves. Just like the story, I think there is also a conflict in my own family regarding the heritage and tradition. And the conflict is between American traditions or Taiwanese traditions. Since I am in PAS, which is an international school, I am expected to act and be an American. Because I am going to the US for university and maybe for jobs. But on the same time, I also have to keep my own traditions, which is Taiwanese traditions, and I can't forget them. I believe both culture is in my life now and they take up half half proportions. I want to be American and learn and get what is good for being an American and American education. But on the same time I can't forget my traditions and heritages and get what is good from it and take away what is bad about my culture. My family gathers at Chinese New Years, Mother's Day, or birthdays. Or sometimes just when everyone is in Taiwan because many of my aunts and uncles are in USA. My family also gather on christmas because that is when my cousins from USA come back to Taiwan. The foods are mostly chinese, Taiwanese, or Japanese. Every adult or older teenager talk when we gather. All of the younger members act in an American way, wear American clothes and sometimes speak English because we have American education.

Journal Entry 28: Thanksgiving

            11/24/11. Yes, today is the day to be thankful, because it is thanksgiving! This is the day when we eat a lot and a lot of things, when we sit down and watch football games and yell and shout, and this is the time to have fun. We had a thanksgiving lunch today and had a lot of food then  e also had a dodgeball tournament. It was fun.

            First of all, I would like to thank my parents like everyone else does. They are the reason for me to be here right now typing this journal entry. They are who supports me everyday and built me a home for me to rely on and depend on. They are the reason for me to live a happy and unworried life. Everyday I wake up, I don't have to worry that I won't have food to eat, won't have place to study, or place to live. Second I am thankful of my friends. They are my charger, they give me energy. Whenever I am sad or angry, they comfort me and make me feel better. They are the most important ingredient in my recipe of life. If it wasn't them, I wouldn't be me, I wouldn't be happy and I wouldn't be Amanda Lin. I am thankful of my school, my home, and my friends. They are the elements that build up me. The people that make me want to live and smile and laugh everyday. The people that I want to spend  the rest of my life with. 

Journal Entry 27: Doing the Right Thing

            I believe that most of the people in this world now is the first kind of people. They follow the majority, go with the rules, no matter if it is written or not written. They are afraid to stand out, afraid to be different from others, and afraid to get what they want. They follow the rules no matter what cost they will have to pay, no matter what they will have to sacrifice, they just follow the rules. On the other hand , the second kind of people is minority. This kind of people are those who are not afraid to stand out, who are not afraid to be different from other people, and who are not afraid to chase and work hard for what they want. They ignore the rules and the customs when the rules are being obstacles to what they want. They are the minority of this world that will often succeed in his or her life. I believe in Asian culture, parents and other people want you to follow the group and do what other people do and follow the rules. So the people in Taiwan are often the first kind of people. But because PAS is an international school, people in our school tend to be the second kind of people, to try to get what they want and be themselves no matter what rules go in their way. In my family, some people such as my father is the first kind of people who will want me to follow the group while my mother, who has a western kind of mind, will want me to stand out and be different and chase my dreams. I am the second kind of people, I believe that anyone can do anything for their dreams. I believe the ones who are different and stand out are the ones who will succeed so I am the second kind of people. I am an opportunist who pursues what I want at any cost. I don't live in a principle-driven life.

Journal Entry 26: Conflict Avoidance

            Conflict is something required in a story. If you don't have a conflict then your story won't be interesting and no one will like it. Conflicts are in real life too. We have conflicts everyday and anytime. I think half of the people in real life try to avoid conflicts, and the other half of the people welcome or accept it. Everyone treats conflicts in different ways and with different emotions. And there are situations where conflicts should be avoid or situations when conflicts should be welcome or is good for you. In some situation, when conflicts can't help anything or if they make things more complicated in a bad way, conflicts should be avoided. And people who usually try to avoid conflicts are the people who thinks ahead but are easily afraid and don't want to get in to any troubles. But on the other hand, conflicts can sometimes be a good thing. Conflicts can be a good thing when it is a competition to make things better or when you are having a boring life. If we don't have any conflicts in our life, then we will be all lazy and doesn't do anything. And we will have a very boring life. I think I would rather welcome a conflict because I believe that life without any conflicts will be boring. I am also kind of a trouble maker so I often face all kinds on conflicts that I will have to solve everyday. But I like it this way. An example of conflict will be when we went to ThiMUN, Ms. Pamela wanted us to stay in our hotel rooms and study, while we wanted to go out and go shopping and play. So as the result, we finished our homework early so Ms. Pamela agreed to let us go out.

Journal Entry 25: Heritage Revisited

            When I think of how heritage benefits my life, I think of many different things and elements. I think one of the heritage that benefits me is the beliefs of life. I believe that one should never give up. This benefits when I deal with hard obstacles that will often make me feel sad and angry. Another heritage that benefits me is that one should always give in order to get something in return. In other words, you can't climb a ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. Another one is to respect the elder. When I see someone's grandfather or grandmother trying to find their grandchild at school, or when their grandchild treats them badly, I will want to cry and punch that kid. I show my respect with the elder people including my grandparent. But on the other hand, some heritages often get in my way. The most commonly heritage that gets in my way is my height. My mother is not very tall. So I got the heritage and so I am very short. I often get laugh at because of my size. My height also makes things very inconvenient. For example, sometimes I am too short to reach for a lot of things, or I can't play some sports or roller coasters because I am too short.

Journal Entry 24: Crossing the Rubicon

The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" means to pass a point of no return. It means when you make a choice or an action that you cannot take back. I believe when you talk to people, you can't take the words back. Fore example, when you just speak whatever is in your mind, and it offended other people, you will never be able to take the words back. Although you can always say sorry, it will never change how he or she feels about you, or how sad and angry they were. And also, if some serious, sad, and angry thing happens in your childhood or life, then it will change your life. That event an't be taken back just like the quote. Sometimes when you take decisions, you can't go back either. For example, once you chose your majors and your jobs, it is really hard to go back. When you take difficult and hard decisions, sometimes you won't be able to go back, just like the quote.

Journal Entry 23: Influence of Children

            There are many books and stories and movies in this world, with many many different kinds of story plot and events and conflicts.The plot in stories, books, and movies can be effected in many ways. And an author's writing skills and technique and the things he or she writes about. I believe that the writer might be influenced by the childhood of his or her life. The writer can be influenced by their childhood in many ways. One of the most common one is to write about it, to write about the author's own life story. Sometimes they will picture them as the main character in the story or movie. Another influence is that they might set the setting of the story as the place where they grew up or lived. Another important influence is that an author's childhood might effect the author's points of view on many things, such as beliefs and religion. I think some parts of my life can be written in a book or movie, but others can't. Those parts that can be written in a book or movie is the interesting part of my life. But I have a pretty ordinary life. I think the book called "The Year My Sister Got Lucky" is a book that is similar to my life. In the book, the sister of the main character is good at everything, just like my sister. My sister has been good at everything, grades, teachers, parents, SATs, MUN and many others. Just like the mother in the book, my mother likes and treats my sister better than me. Another similarity is that I am very close to my sister just like the sisters in the book. So I think this book is really similar to my life.

Journal Entry 22: Your Character

           Everyone has their own character or multiple characters. And many elements make up this character. Some of the examples of the elements that make up someone's character is personalities and appearances. People reveal their character through many kinds of ways such as their actions, thinkings, sayings, reactions, behaviors, and interactions with other people. The evaluate their own characters through asking others or looking at themselves. I believe it is sometimes easy and sometimes hard to be honest to one's self about one's own character. It is easy when it is obvious and everyone says it. And it is also easy when that character is a good caracteristic. But on the other hand, it is hard to be honest with one's character to one's self when it is something that is not that obvious or when the characteristic is a bad one. I have many own characteristics. For example, I am always really happy, that is one of my own characteristics. And also, I am very out going and hyper at times. I like to help people and interact with them. I am also the kind of people who needs friends all the time, 24/7. Many of my friends think that I am a brat and that I am spoiled. They will often tell me that I am a spoiled brat and wants me to don't act that way. But my character is not all the same in different situations. For example, I am the helper in my family. My mom, dad, and sister loves to tell me help them with this or that. I let my family lean on me and depend on me when they need to. And when I am with my friends, I act like a child and I depend on them. I am always very out going and happy in school and with my friends. And often shy and quiet when I am with my family. I know about my character by noticing them myself or was told by my friends or family members.

Journal Entry 21: Bullies

            The issue of bullies is a really serious issue and is very popular right now. Almost everyone has been bullied, bullied people, or seeing others being bullied. Bullying doesn't always means violence and fighting, it can sometimes be verbal or isolation, which happens al lot between girls with all the girl dramas. I think bullies pick on other people because they are afraid that if they don't, they will pick on. They bully people to show others that they are cool and make others be afraid of him or her. They want to feel superior from others. I think bullies are the people who lacks self confidence. Victims don't stand up for themselves when they are bullied for many reasons. One of the reason is that they are too afraid, and they are afraid that nothing will happen after they tell any adult or teacher. When they believe that nothing will happen, hen they don't see the reason for telling. And they are also scared that they will get more bullied because they tell on the bullies. They also don't want other people to think that they are the ones who goes and tell on people.
            I have been bullied before, not by violence, but by isolation and also verbally. I hated that time and I regret why didn't I tell anyone about it. But I believe that getting bullied is a part of a kid's life. We have to learn from being bullied to know how to stand up for themselves. It is something that every child will come across. And because I know the feeling of getting bullied, whenever I witness someone getting bullied, I will always go help no matter if I like that person or not. Sometimes victims don't understand that they are getting bullied, like me. I didn't know at first that I was getting bullied, I thought everyone just didn't like me. And I always thought that it was my problem. I hate bullying and I will do anything to stop it.

Journal Entry 20: Character Questions

            Rukmani is the character I picked for this journal entry. She is the main character of the book, and also the narrater and the protagonist of the book. The whole book is written in her perspectives. Being spoiled because of her family economic status, Rukmani expected herself to have a rich husband and a big wedding. But then it turns out that she doesn't get one and was married to a poor farmer because her family economic and social status later dropped. So the book is written by her talking about her poor life and all the bad things that happened to her. This character is a believable character in many ways. One of the reasons why this character is believable is because you can actually picture her as a real human and a real story. First of all, things didn't turned out as she expected. This happens to every single one of us when something happens and we didn't expect it to be. Second, she overcomes many challenges throughout the whole story. People always have to overcome challenges in life, no matter if it is the small ones, or the big ones. It is also very believable that women in India at that time may have many hardships going through their life.
            The character traits of Rukmani is that she is arrogant, spoiled, strong, smart, and can easily adapt to the environment. One direct characteristic will be that although she has always been living in a rich and comfortable family, she quickly adapted to the life with her poor husband. An indirect characteristic will be when she talked about how big her sisters's weddings were and she expected hers to be like that too, that is arrogant. The motivation of her life is to raise her children and also want to have a rich life like she did before she was married. She faced many conflicts throughout the story including being too poor, being sick or being sexual harassed.

Journal Entry 19: Nectar in a Sieve

            The quote, "Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve. And hope without an object cannot live", is in our novel Nectar in a Sieve. This quote is an epigraph of his book. This epigraph helps the reader by predicting the the theme and what will happen throughout the story. It mentions the title of the book inside and shows the keywords of the book. This quote has very deep meanings. My paraphrase of this quote will be like if you work without an object or wish or hope, then you work will have no results or your work is nothing. You also won't feel happy when you are working. It is like working without a goal in life. When you have no goals in life, you live without a meaning or purpose. You won't have a happy life and also a productive life. And you have to first have a hope or a wish, so if you work hard enough, your goal will achieve, and you will have a productive life. A nectar in a sieve means that although you are trying really hard to get something, its passes right through and you don't get it just like when you try really hard to use a sieve to get nectar. And also the quote means that if you don't have the motivation, then you don't have the reasons to do things and work.
           I think it applies to life because everyone has a hope or wish to move on. For example, students have to have their goal of grades in school in order to work really hard. Or adults have to have a goal of raising salaries to work hard on their work too. This quote totally applies to my life because I always need a goal or else I think my life is miserable and useless.

Journal Entry 18: Character In Painting

            By observing the painting in my textbook pg. 104-105, I can identify many things from the painting. First of all, the subjects of the painting are the people in it. They are the biggest of all the things in the painting and also closest to the audience in the painting. One of them is a woman and one of them is a man. They are both focusing on different things. The woman has her eyes set on the man, so she is focusing on the man. It seems lime she is trying to communicate, comfort, or accompany him. While the man's eyes are set on his hands which is doing nothing. It seems like the man is thinking something very serious or he is sad or annoyed or frustrated. The foreground of the picture is the people in it and especially the man and his clothes and hands. While on the other hand, the background is the wall and the lights. The details are mostly on the man, especially on his jeans and his hands. We can even see the crease on his jeans and the traces on his hands. The meaning associate with the color is that it is a bright day. But the man is sad. The color of this painting sets the mood of it, which is happy and bright like the girl. The relationship between the man and the woman is boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. I think the painter use light and bright colors to show that the girl is like sunshine, really happy and bright and cheerful, and lighten up the man's life.