Immigration Project Reflection

The lit circle book that I had an opportunity to read was, A long way gone by Ishmael Beah. I was really happy when I got the book A long way gone, because I really wanted to read this book, because it seemed very interesting, and at the same time cool. I wanted to read this book because I wanted to know what was happening at Sierra Leone at the time. I wanted to learn how the war in Sierra Leone affected the kids that were in the war. While reading the book I learned that everybody should be grateful about everything they have, and that they shouldn’t take their life lightly, because in the book the main character experienced a lot in a couple of years in Sierra Leone, and experienced how war affects everybody and how devastating it is. In the lit circle process I wouldn’t add anything, because in the process it basically had everything in the blog post. I felt that blogging instead of writing down our lit circle paper was much easier, because if you had to write it down you might lose the paper and the next day you don’t have anything, but when you do the blog posts you could do it any time. I really had no problems with the blogging experience. I learned that a lot of people have different views then yourself.

I felt that it was really hard choosing on which painting I should do, because their were a lot of options on what kind of paintings I should do, but it became easier, because it was kind of hard for me to write artist statements on the other art components. I think there was an easily connection made between with my art component to my lit book, because in my book the main characters favorite songs were put into my painting, so it really connected to my painting. I think the final product of my painting turned our really nicely, because it was very colorful, the music notes were perfect, and I didn’t mess up on the cassette tape. I think my final product would’ve been better if I wrote more nicely on the lyrics of the songs that I added in my painting. I learned that a book could easily be changed into an art piece, because in most books there could be a remake of the books cover and in books there has to be at least one scene that struck you in the book, or there ever has to be a cultural component that you could draw of the book.
The interview process was smooth, and it was also difficult at times. The interview was smooth, because I would never disrupt the person while they were talking, but it was also difficult, because the person I interviewed is kind of like a brother in law to me so I disrupted him one, and asked him a random question. I felt that interviewing the person once was hard already, but interviewing the person three times is hard especially in three different methods. I learned that Thailand is so much different then America, because my person said in Thailand it’s never boring, because you could do anything like fishing, but in America you could only stay home, and watch TV, or play video games. Interviewing the person actually really fitted in with the curriculum, because we had to learn the basics of where the person came from, and ask them their experiences.

Quote 1: by Ishmael Beah, pg 207. "My uncle was sick. One morning we were sitting on the verandah when he complained he wasn't feeling very well. In the evening he developed a fever and he lay inside groaning."

Significance: This quote relates to question 3. It relates to it because its talking about one of the characters hardship. It's also talking about what might happen to the character and how he feels.

Character Judgment: I think the character feels sad knowing that his only family member might die. I think he is crying inside, but not showing it.

Question 1: How do you think the uncle feels about maybe leaving Ishmael?

Quote 2: by Ishmael Beah, ph 210 "We paid the driver and walked across the rusty bridge two at a time, and then had to walk all day to a junction where we waited for another bus that would arrive the next morning."

Significance: This quote relates to question three. It relates to it because it is talking about different situations that is happening to the character. Its also talking about the characters journey to the US.

Character Judgment: The character feels lonely. I think this because the character is all alone, and he's with people he can't trust.

Question 2: Why do you think the people had to cross the bride two at a time?

A Long Way Gone #5

Quote 1: by Ishmael Beah, page 155 "During the second dry season of my wars years, we were low on food and ammunition. So, as usual, we decided to attack another village. First, I went with my squad to spy on the village."

Significance: This quote relates to question number 3. It relates with it because its talking about one of the characters roles and how they portray the role. Its also talking about what his job involves, and how he does it.

Character Judgment: I think the character isn't sad, but worried because he is low on ammunition. He also has no feeling toward the village that he is gonna rob. He got so used to the job that he doesn't even care anymore.

Question 1: If Ishmael was his old self, how do you think he would feel?

Quote 2: By Ishmael Beah, Page 157 " I do not know what happened, but when i woke up the next day I felt as if I had nails hammered into the bones of my foot and my veins were being chiseled. I felt so much pain that I was unable to cry out loud: tears just fell from my eyes."

Significance: This quote relates to question 3. It relates to it because its talking about how much pain he was in when he was trying to do his life role that he was portraying. It is also talking about how much he wants to go to America because of his suffering.

Character Judgment: I think the character is sad and angry at the same time. I think this because hes mad that he joined the army, and getting hurt because of the army.

Question 2: What do you think would've happened to Ishmael if he didn't join the army?

#4 A Long Way Gone

Quote 1: by The Corporal, Page 114 "If you are religious, I mean Christian, worship your Lord today, because you might not have another chance. Dismissed."

Significance: This quote relates to question number three, because it is talking about one of the life roles of some of the characters. It also relates to the question because the characters are about go to war so their life roles are soldiers.

Character Judgment: The character is telling some boys from the ages of 13 to 16 about what is happening and what they are going to do about it. I think the character is laughing because he knows that most of the boys are just going to die anyway.

Question 1: How do you think the boys feel when The Corporal said this?

Quote 2: by Ishmael Beah, page 116 " I held my AK-47 with my right hand, its mouth pointing to the ground. I had attached an extra magazine with adhesive tape to the one inside the gun."

Significance: This quote relates to question number 3. It relates to it because its talking about what the characters life role is, and how the character does his life role.

Character Judgment: The character is preparing himself for war. I feel bad for the character because the character had no choice about whether he wanted to join or not.

Question 2: DO you think Ishmael really is used to his gun and killing people?