"Crossing the Wire" Response

Crossing the Wire was an unbelievable book.  In my 20 years I have only met one person who was struggling in the process of getting citizenship.  I didn’t know him very well, but I had heard about how much it affected him and his family and how hard it was for them and his friends to handle the situation.  Reading this book opened up my eyes to the whole immigration struggle.  Yes, we have immigration issues right now, but America has dealt with immigration for centuries!  What made this book so remarkable was how detailed it got in many parts.  I felt as if I knew Victor, I had sympathy for him and I could relate with him in some ways and other ways I looked up to him and his courage.

                This book may not be based on an actual person, but I’m sure it doesn’t stray too far off from the true struggles.  What’s crazy for me is that I’ve always heard people identify America as the place of opportunities and dreams, but what we forget is that for some people it’s the place for a future; a future for a single person, a future for his/her family, a future for his/her future children, and a place to make a home for themselves.  One part of the book that made me really step back and rethink my actions was when Miguel told Victor that he’d have to watch what he spent his money on because he’d lose it to all the wasteful and junky items sold everywhere.  It’s so unbelievable true though!  We Americans have so much junk we get garages to store more useless junk, and yet we continue to buy more and complain about things we don’t have. 

                Seeing how little Victor and his family had in Mexico and then seeing how much Victor struggled once he got to America was really difficult for me.  He built a lot of relationships and had a lot of them ruined because that’s just what had to happen.  It’s incredibly sad.  I can’t image being a young teenage boy, having to leave home and venture off to a place where I don’t know the language or the streets, and then have to cope with the fact that I may never get back.  That’s a lot of pressure for one kid! 

                I thought it was really cool that the book started in Mexico and then ended here in Washington.  A lot of the places/cities that were mentioned in the book I recognized which made it really easy to relate to the book and it was also easy to create a mental image of the scenes described in the book.  

Will Hobbs did a fantastic job writing this book, he made it easy for the reader to relate to the main character, his chapters were short making it appealing to reluctant readers, and he wrote about a touchy/current topic in a way that addresses the issue, but doesn’t take sides which is really fantastic.  He shows the struggle of an innocent boy trying to get across to save his family, and for a brief section in the book Hobbs writes about a border patrol man and his take on the immigration issue.  It was overall a fantastic book, I’d recommend it to ages 4^th and up, easy and quick read!

"Sold" by Patricia McCormick

     Sold is written from the eyes of a 13 year-old girl from Nepal who has been sold into sex slavery to help her family financially.  Patricia McCormick wrote this book in such a fascinating way that it kept me engaged even though the subject is a hard one to read about.  There were really only two detailed sex scenes and even then they weren’t extremely detailed which made the subject feel real, but wasn’t too intense for the reader.  Patricia did a fantastic job addressing the emotions and struggles of what it’s like to be a part of this current problem.  Patricia spent a lot of time giving background information of the girl; where she was from, what her home life was, what her hobbies were, and what she loved were all described in great detail.  This was very beneficial to the story because having it all ripped away made the emotions that much stronger.  Seeing how this girl had friends, had a crush, had family struggles, and loved certain parts of where she lived made it very relatable for me. 

     One of the hardest parts about reading this book was knowing that this it was factual.  The story may not be based off of a certain person, but it is based off real events that occur daily.  It breaks my heart to think of a 13 year-old having to leave her family, thinking she is going to be a maid for a rich family and then finding out in such a bad way that she was a part of a whole different scene.  This young girl had to grow up and learn life lessons that no 13 year-old should ever have to learn.  What was amazing was how even through all the negative aspects of her living situation, she still found hope.  There were a couple people in that house who didn’t have their emotions straight and couldn’t handle the “job” and they collapsed, but this girl, this young girl was able to stay strong and make it out.  Truly amazing!

     Another hard part of this book was reading that babies were sold to “cook” so when they got older they would have to participate in the same environment their moms did in order to make money and live.  This just broke my heart to think of a family so desperate to live that they have to sell their baby daughters and even adolescent daughters to such an awful place.  The fact that virgins get paid more because it’s supposed to cure HIV and other diseases just baffles me.  Seriously just breaks my heart! 

     Overall this book was truly amazing.  The way it was written was perfect; it captured the emotions and events in a pleasing way considering the unpleasant topic of the book.  Patricia did a fantastic job with her vocabulary and tone choices, it would be a very good book to read aloud to a class, or give to a reluctant reader.  It’s a very fast-paced book but because of the sensitive subject some precautions would have to be met.  

Nepal Research

Nepal

Where is it?  Nepal is located in South Asia, right next to China and India

How big is it?  Nepal is 147,181 sq. km

Geography of Nepal- There are three main geographical regions of Nepal:  Himalayan region, mid hill region and Terai region.  In the Himalayan region you can find 8 well-known and very large mountains:  Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna.  The inner part of the Himalayan region is a cold desert.  The Terai region occupies 17% of the land mass of the country.  Because of the diversity of the regions, the climate also fluctuates depending on the location.  North Nepal has cold summers and severe winters whereas the south experiences tropical summers and mild winters.  Nepal is said to have five seasons:  spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, and winter.  

Nature of Nepal- Nepal has 10 national parks, three wildlife reserves, six conservation areas, and one hunting reserve.  Compared to America, we have 521 national parks and we are 9.827 million sq. km.  So to have an equal comparison, Washington state is 184,827 sq. km and has 15 national parks, so Nepal and Washington are fairly proportionate.  

People- There are roughly 26.62 million people residing in Nepal currently, Washington state has 6.971 million people.  Nepal may be smaller than Washington, but there are a lot more people in it.  Of these 26.62 million people there are 101 different ethnic groups and an estimated 92 languages spoken.  Nepali is the official language of Nepal and is the way people communicate from different parts of Nepal.

Religion- Nepal is a secular country so there are a wide variety of religions practiced.  Some common religions are:  Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, and Sikhism.  The majority of Nepalis are either Hindus or Buddhists and the two religions are very peaceful towards each other.  

Customs-  Because of the majority of Nepalis being Hindus or Buddhists most of the customs fall back on the religious customs.  Arranged marriages are very common, Nepalis don't eat meat because Hindus worship cows and the cow is the national animal of Nepal

My thoughts- After looking at the facts and details regarding aspects of this culture and then looking at pictures from various places within Nepal, it’s truly an amazing place.  No, from what I saw it’s not a bunch of touristy kind of attractions and there’s not a big show, but that’s what so great about it.  I’m sure they have some places within Nepal that are breathtaking with extravagant architecture, but what I really love about it is that it’s so simple and the fact that the two biggest religions are at peace with each other, of course the internet isn’t always correct and there will always be arguments occurring everywhere, but it truly does just seem like a very peaceful place to be.  There aren’t the silly distractions we have in America like NFL and Netflix; it looks like simple living in the country, with fantastic views of the mountains and jungles.   It’s been added to my bucket list of places to visit!

5 Pieces of My Culture

Round-Up Belt Buckle-
The Pendleton Round-Up is my favorite weekend of the entire year.  It is seriously more fun than Christmas most years.  What is it?  It’s a bunch of events that take place during the second full week of September.  The first Saturday there is a concert, this year it is Big and Rich, then starting Monday-Wednesday there is professional bull riding and it’s a blast to go to, and then Thursday-Saturday the rodeo takes place.  Saturday is the finals day, the day that really counts for all of the competitors and awards are handed out to the winners.  There are a lot more events that take place within each of the days, but those are the “main events” and the biggest part of the round-up.  The Pendleton Round-Up is a family tradition, and has been since our families first got to Pendleton.  Why is it so important?  Well, watching the rodeo isn’t the most important part of the entire weekend, what makes it so special is the fact that everyone gets to dress up in their cowboy/cowgirl gear and march around a small town with a population that has doubled for the week.  People come from all around the world to this famous rodeo and they are all there to have a great time.  Everyone you meet is super friendly and looking to have some fun.  What also makes this weekend so great is that my family usually all gets together and we end having a ton of laughs and memories made.  It’s a weekend in September we all look forward to, or at least I have since I was young.  I’m a country girl at heart and for that weekend only I get to scream “let ‘ER buck” as much as I want!

Cross-
I was raised up Catholic, but I have flourished in the Christian faith.  What’s the difference between the two?  There really isn’t a huge difference; there are just some technicalities that differ between the religions.  The Catholic faith is beautifully structured whereas the Christian faith isn’t which is beautiful in its very own way.  YoungLife is the reason I have my strong faith that I do today, it opened my eyes to a new way of thinking.  The verse on the cross is my very first favorite verse.  Faith, hope, and love are the three words that I live off of and the verse really does sum it up.  Of course I have a ton of different verses that I fall back on, but truly 1 Corinthians 13:13 is my go-to verse.  My life has had its ups and downs, I’ve gone through many struggles, seen some dark days, but somehow, my faith has pulled me through it all.  I’m not saying I haven’t gotten mad at God or given up on Him, I definitely have, but that’s what makes my faith mine.  I love Jesus, and I love who He is.  A man who never lies, never cheats, never ruins, never kills, never bails on you, never tells your secrets, always listens to you, always looking out for you, brings hope, brings life, brings dreams, and brings joy, who wouldn’t want to be best friends with that guy?!  My faith is the foundation of who I am today and that’s why I have made it a part of my culture display.

Starfish-
Although I am fascinated by starfish, they are not part of my culture, however the beach is.  I love to travel, someday I’d love to visit every country, but my favorite place to go is the beach; especially the Oregon coast.  I was raised up in Portland, OR so for weekend family fun we would always go to the beach, it was only like 2 hours away so it was an easy drive and we would just spend all day playing in the sand, playing Frisbee, and running from the waves.  Now that I’m older and further away from the beach, I have a different appreciation for the beach, but it’s still my favorite destination.  I find so much peace and joy when my toes are in the sand, when I close my eyes and hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore line, and when I taste the salty air.  The beach is the greatest creation on Earth.  There is truly so much beauty in it and around it that truly is astonishing.  If I ever need a break from life and just want to get away, you will find me at the beach, I guarantee it!

Photographs-
I’ve always loved taking photos, especially landscapes, and it wasn’t until my senior year in high school (3 years ago!) that I learned the technicalities and the guidelines for taking a decent picture.  Now I love it even more!  I love taking landscapes, abstract, and scenery photos (I don’t have an eye for posing people).  What I love about taking these kinds of pictures is that sometimes these small things in life go unnoticed until someone points them out.  Not everyone sees the back of a car very interesting until someone takes a photo of it, and edits it until it looks foreign.  There is a lot of beauty behind photographing landscapes, and it’s a very relaxing hobby of mine.  It’s a fun challenge for me and it’s something that I love to do.  Someday I would like to own one of those very fancy cameras, but for now I will remain a poor college student with my cheaper camera.

Scrapbook-
My family and friends mean the world to me.  This scrapbook was given to me on my 14th birthday and it’s filled with letters, poems, memories, and artwork from family and close friends that are just very encouraging and uplifting.  I keep it with me wherever I go because no matter where I am, having this scrapbook means that I take my family with me.  My family is scattered all across the west coast, and we don’t get to see each other all that often, but I still try to keep in touch with all of them all the time because they truly do mean everything to me.  I don’t always agree with what my family says or does, but they are still my family and I would still do anything for them no matter what.  Family is a very important part of my life, and in order to get to know me, you have to know my family; it’s just the only way to truly see me for me!

"Kampung Boy" Reflection

Kampung Boy was such an entertaining and well written graphic novel.  The way it was written was for informational and amusing which made for a very easy read.  While reading this book I was able to connect to it in many ways because of the similarities of my childhood and of Lat's childhood.  There were of course some traditional differences like the age he started school compared to when I did, when he was sent away to grow up, having to go through classes to learn how to pray properly, and when he got circumcised, I'm a girl so I didn't have to worry about that but it's normal nowadays to have it done as a baby, and not when a boy has turned 10. 

When doing research on Malaysia last week I knew there were different religions within Malaysia, but what fascinated was how similar I viewed America with Malaysia.  Just the diversity in religion, population, and architecture is very common in both of these countries.  So, when I started this book I had my suspicion that I’d be able to relate to this book a lot, which I was able to.

Seeing how Lat’s mother reacted and treated Lat was spot on with how my mom treated me when I was growing up, and I’m sure it would be similar for most people.  The very protective mom who isn’t afraid to punish their child if need be is the kind of similarities I saw. 

This book definitely opened my eyes to the traditional differences of Muslims and of Christians and really makes me want to read more and research more about Muslims traditions and prayers.  Here in America we go to school to learn basic information to benefit our future, for Muslims, they go to school to learn how to properly pronounce words and correctly pray.  It’s so interesting to read about it. 

I loved how this book was written as an autobiography because it helps the reader relate to the author and also helps identify that the events that occurred are accurate and there is also a sense of personal memories portrayed.  Not many people can capture minute details about a person’s life unless they spend a lot of time and really open the person up.  So, having this book be about a real Muslim boy and his side of growing up made the book really enjoyable.  I, as a reader, was able to learn more about the Muslim religion in this book than I would’ve in a textbook.  Why?  Well, this book was entertaining and I was able to relate to it and I didn’t want to put it down, there was personality within the text and so what I read stuck with me.  In a textbook, it is strictly informational and not something that entertains or engages me so what I read usually goes in and then goes out, nothing sticks because I can’t relate to it.

Lat did a fantastic job retelling his childhood in this graphic novel.  This was my very first graphic novel, and it made me want to go read more because that’s how enjoyable it was!

Malaysia

Malaysia

Where is it?  Malaysia is in the southeast region of Asia.  It's area is close to the size of New Mexico.  Most of the land is covered in forestry; there is also a mountain range that runs through it.

Ethnicity...57% of the population are Malays and the rest are Chinese, Indian, and Bumiputeras.  

Language...Malay is the national language, but ethnic groups do converse in their languages along with the English language.

Religion...Islam is the official religion but Buddhism and Christianity are also practiced.

Fun side notes...

-Their flag is very similar to ours, red, white, blue, and yellow colors.  Not 50 stars, but a crescent moon and sun.

-Population=30,000,000

-Public Celebrations are very common

-Handshakes should only be initiated by women when greeting them

-To greet someone correctly you offer both hands out and the other person will lightly touch your outstretched hands then quickly bring his/her hands to their chest to symbolize they greet from their heart.

-It's best to call before visiting someone's home

-You must use your right hand when offering/receiving a gift and when eating.

-Because of the country's large Muslim population drinking is not a common thing in Malaysia

-A lot of their buildings are on stilts to allow for more breezes and a way to cool off the houses/structures.

-Malaysia has 65,877 km of highway which is more than the Earth's circumference of 40,075

I found it extremely fascinating to hear about the diversity of this small place.  I found so many websites that just had random fun facts on Malaysia and I found it to be extremely fun to read and observe the photographs provided.  There are many common aspects between Malaysia and America, but Malaysia seems to have a much more unique environment.  It's definitely a place I would like to someday visit and it definitely not a place I had considered at all before.

I found it very interesting to hear about the greeting rituals in Malaysia.  I'm not a feminist, but it does irritate me to see women and other people who differ from the Caucasian male get treated differently, but it sounds like it just depends on where you are that different customs are present. 

Malaysia just seems like a very diverse and fun place to be.  I looked at some videos and photos taken in Malaysia and they all just made it look like a fun place to be.  The architecture is unbelievable!  Definitely a great place to visit in the future! :)