| Wednesday, February 25, 2009 |
| The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez #3 |
"I reached underneath the front seat and pulled out my penny collection, which I kept in a small, white cardboard box." page 97, Francisco.
I thought that this was interesting, because even though Francisco was very poor, he still collected pennies for a collection. I think that he could have used these pennies for food or something; but they pennies may be very valuable later.
I can relate to Francisco, because I like to collect things as well. I like to collect the quarters that has different states on them. I was also surprised because the pennies are really valuable now. An 1865 indian head penny (the one that Francisco said he had) is worth about $20 now, and I wonder if he still has that collection.
Do you think that Francisco was ashamed of where he had lived?
"I am useless; I can't work; I can't feed my family; I can't even protect you from la migra." page 116, Papa
I thought that this was pretty sad because the family works hard for their money, and one less worker would have less money. I felt bad for him because he works extremely hard for the family and helped them get all the way to America, but now he's getting weak.
I think that Papa might die soon; it seems like he's getting weaker. I think that it would be difficult to live without him, because he is the one who brought them to America, and brings the family together. Papa also brings more delight and jokes to the family and seems like a happy person.
Do you think that the Papa might die soon? |
posted by charisse @ 8:27 PM  |
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| Friday, February 20, 2009 |
| The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez #2 |
"I was paying attention to Miss Scalapino, I was so embarrassed. I laid my head on top of my desk and closed my eyes...........I wanted to fall asleep and wake up to find it was only a dream." Francisco, pg 23
This was a hardship for Francisco as he lived in America. I wondered how it felt like just in a classroom learning something, but you can't learn it since you don't understand it. I would feel so confused hearing someone and I can't understand them; it's as if I don't have ears and I wouldn't be able to hear anything.
I think that Francisco needs a translator, and try to learn English more. I don't understand how the teacher does not want Francisco to speak Spanish. I don't get how he should only speak English when he doesn't even know it. I think that she should at least try to teach him or help him out... I think that he should learn English especially since he's living in America now.
If you were in Francisco's position, how would you handle his situtation?
"The contrastista walked up to Gabriel and yelled in his face, "Well this isn't your country, idiot! You either do what I say or I'll have you fired!""
The "contrastista" was cruel to the workers. I thought that it was really mean and hard for them. I think that it was already bad enough for them to be working hard for their money, and the immigrant families already had a difficult life.
I wondered how it felt to be in that position. They only send few dollars and right now in America, several dollars wouldn't help that much. I think that it was really difficult for the family back then but they seem fine. I also wondered how the families did not get caught for being illegal immigrants. I think that you could of somewhat suspected it especially since they didn't understand English as much.
Do you think that Francisco's father still "sparkled" his eyes when he's living in California now? Or do you think they're still living the same as they were in Mexico? |
| posted by charisse @ 5:57 PM |
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| Monday, February 16, 2009 |
| The Circuit |
"Yes, they caught us," I repeated. I had never seen my brother so sad. Angry, I added in a whisper, "But it took them ten years."" -Francisco, pg 4
This relates to one of the questions because it was how Americans treated the characters; they got caught of being in America and they just took them away and sent them to wherever. I think that it was sad that someone turned them in after a while and I would feel betrayed.
I think that it was surprising how the family got caught and it made me wonder how I would feel if I got caught being a illegal immigrant, on a random day. I think that it was weird that they got caught after ten years.. I wondered if anyone at least suspected they were immigrants. I would've been adapted to the lifestyle for within ten years and it would suck if I would have to go back to the home country and come back and face how it used to be.
Q: What could have been a reason that someone would want to turn in Francisco and his family?
"During the night we dug a hole underneath the wire wall and wiggled like snakes under it to the other side." pg 1
This relates to the question of how they came to America; they had to sneak in and be careful after a long, 2-day journey. It must have been weird to settle to a new place and had to sneak in. I tried to picture how they would've came through a hole and had to dig for in order to get here.
I thought that part of the journey reminded me of what people do now a days to get here to America. I wondered how they didn't get caught. I thought that it was weird that it was what they had to do, but in a way they had to do it because they wanted to escape poverty and have a better life. I found it surprising that this is what people do to escape from their old life to a new one.
Why couldn't the family just come to America legally? |
| posted by charisse @ 7:24 PM |
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| Friday, February 13, 2009 |
| Field Trip Reflection |
Part I: From Haven To Home
In this exhibit it shows the history of the Jewish and how they made an impact in America. I learned many things about Jewish history. There was about 350 years of Jewish history and about 23 Jewish people first immigrated to New York, or 'New Amsterdam' in 1654. The Jewish have been struggling for freedom and rights and they came from Russia, Romania, and Austria. They were fleeing from religious persecution, grinding poverty, and violent attacks. The Jewish first came and they worked in poorly paid industries such as clothing factories and cigarette manufacturers. They were crowded into small homes and lived a hard life in America. An interesting thing that I learned was that 20,000 Jewish women boycotted a kosher meat shop. They did this because it was twice the price of regular meat--9 cents for non kosher and 18 cents for kosher. I thought that this was interesting because it was a lot of women that boycotted and I found this surprising. I also learned that the Jewish kind of started on Las Vegas, and that makes a big impact to America.
Part II: Children of Immigrants
Photograph: This image that I chose was two little boys on one of those mini-rides in Chinatown in New York. The two little boys seemed like siblings and the younger sibling stuck to the older one. One of the boys were looking at the camera and another was waving at it. I thought that it was interesting because I could relate having to go on one of those mini rides.
Quote: "If we have stayed in Bonsia we would have probably been killed. Although none of us can predict the future, just imagine a seven-year old child wondering if he would be killed the next day or spared in this world we call home." - Denis Tuzinovi, Bonsia
I thought that this quote was interesting because I tried to picture in my head a seven year old. It was difficult to imagine this since it's pretty cruel and scary. The quote portrays how difficult it would've been on Bonsia. I think that if I was seven and was wondering if I would've been killed the next day, I would have nightmares. This quote also says, 'in this world we call home'. I think that this means that the world could be mean and cruel but this is how we live. |
| posted by charisse @ 5:47 PM |
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| Sunday, February 8, 2009 |
| Immigration |
An immigrant is a person who settles in another country where they were not born there. An immigrant would want to leave their home country because they would like to have a new opportunity in a different country. An immigrant may not like it in their country, and think that they would have a better life in another one. Many immigrants come to America because we have freedom and our own rights. Our country gives many rights such as freedom in religion. We have the right to practice a religion for what we believe in. There are also more job opportunities here and a chance for a better life than somewhere else. Our country has a more easier life of living. In different countries, you may have to hunt for your food. In this country, we could just buy food.
The US has really been affected with immigration. Since a lot of people from different countries would want to live in America, it really makes this country really diverse. Different types of cultures are everywhere—there are a wide variety of foods to try and different traditions. There are many different languages to learn and also different religions. Since many people want to come to America, then others would try to sneak in and come here illegally. This has caused many problems with immigration which resulted to have strict rules for coming here.
My life has been affected by immigration because my parents came to America from the Philippines. If my parents didn't come here, then I would probably be living in the Philippines, or I wouldn't be alive at all. Most of my family has immigrated from the Philippines and came to America for a better living and especially jobs. Some of my relatives came here to join the navy and wanted to be with family in this country. Immigration has really affected my life for the better. |
| posted by charisse @ 6:29 PM |
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