Decisions

“ To be or not to be, that’s a question. ” In our life, we have many things to decide. Every decision we make will influence our life. In this book, Sookan, the main character is an 18-year-old girl who decided to study in America alone. The author writes a lot of things about her study and life in America. That is the reason why I like this book, it is resonant. Sookan and I have similarities. 

First of all, this book had stuck a chord in my heart. As an international student in a strange country, I can see part of my life in the book. Sometimes we have same moods, feelings and experiences. I learn how to solve same problems from this book. For example, once Sookan fainted in the bathroom, because she was too tired. She is a hard-working student. She does not want her family to be disappointed at her, and she has to remain her scholarship. These things push her to work hard. Sometimes I also have this feeling. I always want to be a good student or a good daughter. I extremely care about grades, because I want to prove that I work hard and I get good grades by myself. I spend their money in a right way. I hope they feel that they made a good decision, and I wish they can be proud of me. Sookan is like another me, I can see my feelings from her. 

Second, In my opinion, Sookan is a tough girl, I learnt many things from her. She never regrets at her decisions. She wants to study abroad, everyone is against her. They think she is too young to go abroad alone, but Sookan believes she can do it. However, the facts show us Sookan is a tough girl and she made a right decision. No matter how difficult the things she faces, she never gives up. Besides, she wants to be the best one. Numerous international students give up their study and come back to their own countries when they have difficulties. In this book, we can see Sookan struggle many times, but she only thinks how to solve the problems. She never thinks she can give up. This is her, a good problem solver. I learnt a lot from her. Every time I feel it is too difficult to me, I cannot do it. I will think about her, I want to be a tough girl like her. Then I just take a deep breath and move on. I studied and improved myself by reading this book and getting to know this girl. 

In conclusion, this is good book for international students. I must recommend this book to all my friends. I found another me in this book. I hope it can resonant with my friends. I learnt many things from this book, and I hope this book can help some struggling people out. We make decisions whole time. We do not have to make everything right, but we should try our best to have persistence. 

Gathering of pearls thinking questions

1. Do you think Sookan will keep obeying her sister or listen to Ellen?
2. According to the letters, list 3 differences between Korea and America.

Gathering of pearls questions (Chapter 6-12)

Chapter 6

1. Sookan and her sister’s conflict is her sister wanted her to write the letter as soon as possible. However Sookan has much work to do, she does not have enough time to do this. Her sister’s tone in that letter was really strict, that made Sookan think her sister does not care her feelings. That’s the conflict. Actually, the internal conflict is Sookan is in a period of changing. She started fitting in American culture, and there are many differences from Korean culture and American culture. Sookan used to totally obey her sister. Now, she is wondering if she should abbey her sister everything. That is the internal conflict. This part is really important for this book, because this is a important period for Sookan. Sookan started changing and fitting in America. This is a transition period, so it is important. 

Chapter 7

1. Ellen thinks social scenes are important to college life. 

2. Sookan used to want to go back to Korea and be a nun like her sister after she graduate. However, Ellen told her she can married, have a family, and still be a teacher, or a social worker, or a volunteer if she wants. She does not need to help others as a nun. 

3. In my opinion, Sookan needs to listen to Ellen, because she needs to fit in America society. She is no longer in Korea, so she should change a thinking mind. 

Chapter 8

1. Because she missed the afternoon attendance for meeting. 

2. I don't think she made a right decision, because writing a letter did not deserve five demerits. If I were she, I would stay up for a while at night to write this letter. I would not sneak out from the meeting. 

3. She writes about her babysitting job and her opinions for if men should do housework. The most thing she writes is she lists the differences between America and Korea, and she writes her own opinions. She also writes something about the election day. She shares part of her life with her sister. She also expresses her love and apology to her sister. 

4. First, her sister will ask her not to forget Korean culture, she will tell her Korean culture is better than American culture. Then, she may encourage Sookan to work hard. 

Chapter 9

1. Good: 1. Sookan has a chance to have a rest, and Ellen's mother's gift makes Sookan be touched. 

           2. Ellen's family makes Sookan feel warm. Also, it is good for Sookan to fit in America. 

     Bad: 1. Ellen's family makes Sookan get a little bit homesick. 

               2. Sookan has less time to study. 

Chapter 10

1. Shower room is her secret study spot. 

2. She suffered from exhaustion, and she had a fever. She fainted. 

3. She and Marci and Ellen can all get together over vacation, but she is not to take any books with her to Marci's. 

Chapter 11

1. The difference is mother is concerned about Sookan more, sister requires Sookan more. Mother loves Sookan, and she does not want Sookan to be so tired and worried about the family. Mother's life is all about the family. She talks about her daughters and brothers all the time. Sister has more requirements for Sookan. She cannot understand Sookan' difficulties and struggling. She wants Sookan to work really hard and complete her requirements excellent. Sister's life is more about her job and helping others. 

Chapter 12

1. She prepares Korean foods, such as Bulgogi, salad and rice. 

2. Ellen makes butter cookies, and Marci makes brownies.

3. Sister Reed joins them. 

4. First, this gathering makes Sookan think of her family and her life in Korea. It also gives Sookan a chance to relax and be with her friends, Bennetts family and sister Reed. These things and people make her happy. Also, she understands why her mom love to see people enjoy the foods that she cooks and why she loves cooking.

Gathering of pearls questions

Chapter 1: 

1. Getting married right out of high school or while in college was considered the norm for American women at that time. Women were encouraged to stay at home if the family could afford it. Women were supposed to fulfill certain roles, such as a caring mother, a diligent homemaker, and an obedient wife. 

Chapter 2: 

1. a. Pocket money: Little money for daily life. Parents always give pocket money to their children. b. honorific: Some special terms in Korean. Young people use honorific terms to older people to show the respects. 
2. Because Ellen’s outfits matched right down to her nail polish and earrings. 
3. The scholarship pays for her tuition, and room and board. 
4. She needs to work 15 hours a week in the college dining hall and get good grades in all courses and meet the social, moral, religious standards of the school. 
5. It means that they only pay their own things, pay separate. 
6. First, Sookan has to consider the financial problems, but Ellen doesn’t. Second, Sookan needs to spend much time on studying or working for her scholarship, but Ellen doesn’t. Third, Ellen cares about her look or color coordination, but Sookan does not care. Ellen has many friends and they talk to each other really free, but Sookan doesn’t. Sookan is shier than Ellen, her English is not really well. She was also influenced by Korean culture for a long run, so she has a different thinking way from American. Ellen is a native speaker, so she doesn't worry about the language. Also, she grows in a free environment, that is different from Korea. 

Chapter 3: 

1. She signed up for world literature, world religious, Greek and Roman culture and early Europe history. The most difficult one is Europe history. 
2. Marci is Sookan’s schoolmate who lived in a single room across the hall from Ellen and me. First, she reminded Sookan to go for lunch in the classroom. She is too shy to talk to Sookan, she was just staring Sookan. When Sookan’s eyes met hers, she looked away. Marci is a shy girl, and she is always alone. she wants to make friends and be popular, but she doesn't know what to say. She is a warm-hearted and careful girl, she keeps an eye on Sookan. She noticed that Sookan always missed lunch, so she asked Sookan. She also wanted to take Sookan’s books back for her, because she noticed that the books were heavy. She knew Sookan did not eat lunch, so she bought her a sandwich. 
3. The job is baby-sitting. 
4. Sookan is proud of her sister and she think she must obey her sister. She wants to get praise from her sister. In her opinion, her sister is like her mother. She does not really want to tell her sister her secret, but she felt guilty about not obeying her sister. 

Chapter 4: 

1. Melancholy means sad and moved. 
2. First, she might be homesick. Second, she feels her mother’s love from the letter. she feels guilty that she could not be with her mother and care for her. She had no daughters at home. Third, she feels bad because she lets her family worry about her. She feels ashamed that she cannot be there and help her mother through her hardships. Besides, Sookan is melancholy, because her mother thinks she is not a good mother, and Sookan thinks she makes her mother feel guilty. Fifth, her mother mentioned a lot of things about home, such as the ducks and the sweater. These things make Sookan feel melancholy, because these things are really normal, if Sookan is at home. However, she is not here. Although these things are normal, she could not see and touch them. This makes her sad. 
3. She is a tough woman, and she never complained about her hardships. She does not want her children to worry about her. Second, she is a good mother, she loves her children. She never talks of filial duty,of the obligation children had to their elders and their ancestors. She loves her children. She hates imposing her children. These things make her different from other mothers in Korea. Also, as a mother, she trusted and her children. She believes Sookan can succeed in America. 

Chapter 5: 

1. Yes, she enjoys baby-sitting. She enjoys playing with children. They have fun together. It makes her uneasy to know that she is being paid for being with them. She does lots of things for Jimmy and Sarah, such as reading books for them and playing with them outside. Also, children do something for Sookan, such as correcting her pronunciation and picking flowers for her. They like each other. 
2. In America, both women and men do housework. While baby-sitting, she saw Mr. Bennet cooking. However, in Korea, cooking is women’s job. Men never cook, and even enter a kitchen. Women never seemed happier than when they watched men gobble up all the food they had spent the day preparing in Korea. 
3. Yes, I would do, because I am glad to spend time with children. I like kids, especially when they smile. I think Sookan did them because she likes the kids, and she likes Mr. Bennet. She thinks that is her duty, because babysitting neighbor’s children is free in Korea. She appreciates that she can get paid for this job. In her opinion, this is not hard, so she must do that. 

letter

Dear sister, 

I am sorry to send you this letter late, because I have much work to do. I like America, people are friendly here. I have two best friends, Ellen and Marci. They are two good girls, and they like Korean culture. I think I should bring them some gifts from home next time. I am doing well, so don't worry about me. You know what, I learned much Europe culture and history in the class. That is really different from Korean culture, and it is really interesting! You know Louis XIII? He became the king when he was only four years old! How amazing is it !Also, my classmates like my hanbok. I thought they would not like it! How's everyone doing at home? Do you often visit our mother? 

I love you! 

Yours, 

Sookan

Gathering of pearls info

Gathering of pearls is a non-fiction. It is written by Sook Nyul Choi. The writer is from North Korea and she emigrated to The United States. She born in 1937. She was a school teacher. She had two daughters. She always write her experience. She writes children's literature.  

Real bravery----Let The Bullets Fly

Let The Bullets Fly is a Chinese movie which is directed by Wen Jiang at 2010. I watched this movie several times. To be honest, I did not understand it well, because this movie contains many political metaphors. Thus I thought this movie was so boring. I watched this movie again during this winter break, and I finally understood it. This movie is so realistic that if you do understand it, you must think it is a really enjoyable movie. This movie was nominated 13 times in Hong Kong Film Awards by 2012. I like this movie and I was surprised that the plot so thickens. This movie shows the genuine bravery to us.

The story happened during the warring 1920s. A bandit named “Pock Mark” led six people to rob bad rich people and help poor people. Once they robbed the new leader of Goose town. He used the actual leader’s name and pretended as the leader of the town, because he wanted to gain money. The authentic leader became his counsellor. They had a big enemy in Goose town, local mobster master Huang. He was one of the biggest drug sellers in the whole country, so he was so rich that the previous leaders should listen to him. Pock Mark did not mind him, so Huang was angry. He killed Pock Mark’s son. Pock Mark wanted to pay back. Then they had a fight, and Pock Mark led the poor people to win the fight.

In this movie, I like Pock Mark most. Pock Mark represented real bravery. Before him, the previous leaders of the town only gained money from increasing the poor people’s tax, and never took money from rich people. Pock Mark was different, he never took poor people’s money, and he wanted to gain money from the richest and the worst person in the town, Huang. Every person in town was afraid of Huang, they were all Huang’s soldiers. Pock Mark only had 6 people, that was so dangerous. However, Pock Mark had fewer people, he was clever. Although people in the town were afraid of Huang, but they were all angry with Huang. Pock Mark used their angers, and they all became Pock Mark’s soldiers finally. Then, Pock Mark won the fight. That’s the real bravery. Real bravery is not to fight blindly. It is to use wisdom to get goals.

I like this movie because it has many political and realistic metaphors. These metaphors are interesting. For instance, previous leaders all gained money from poor people by increasing the tax. They were fearful of Huang, and they always gave poor people’s money to Huang. This phenomenon is like today’s malfeasants. They are always rich people’s partner. They help rich people and squeeze poor people. There is another interesting metaphor. In the movie, Pock Mark took the position from his counsellor. He also took his wife. At the first night, Pock Mark said he would not sleep with her. However, the woman said that was ok, because she just wanted to marry or sleep a leader. That was realistic. Nowadays, some women wanted to marry rich people only. These metaphors are so interesting that I laughed so many times.

In conclusion, I like this movie and I will recommend it to my friends. I learned the real bravery from this movie. In my opinion, it is not only a movie, but also a mirror. It reflects the reality and the society.