Q4 Outside Reading Week 3 Post B

This is a letter to the fictional protagonist of The Kite Runner.

Dear Amir,

I want you to know that you are not a bad person. That is important. Sometimes life can be unbelievably difficult and no matter what your conscience may say, it's not all your fault. Take it from me, I know it's true. There are times when you just want to give up and start over, but you can't. You really can't. Because no matter how many times you move, how many times you runaway, it'll follow you, whatever you're running away from. My advice is to confront it--when you're ready of course.

I know pleasing Baba is hard. That is something that you can't control. That is not your fault. Any of it. He's a man of high standards and if he can't love his own son for who he is, then there's nothing you can do about it Amir. Nothing. You have to just keep going. Trying to make Baba proud only gets you into trouble, you know that. It makes you act selfish for irrational reasons. It makes you hurt your friends, the people you love. Stop. You have to stop. It's like an addiction, the relationship that you have. It's not healthy and the only way to fix an unhealthy relationship is to end it. True, you can't just leave Baba, but you need to stop caring, to stop worrying. We all need to be loved and appreciated, so instead of trying to impress someone who is determined not to be impressed by you, go to someone who loves you for the way they are, like Rahim Kahn or Hassan. Don't push them away.

As for Hassan, I know you blame yourself for what happened. But you need to stop. You need to realize that there is evil in this world that no one can confront, at least not on their own. I mean look at the World Wars of the 20th Century. Millions of people died to make the world a better place for the rest. That's what makes someone a hero, but you're a boy. At your age, there are things that the most intelligent people in the world never knew. I know Hassan is your friend and you probably should have done something to stop Assef, but blaming yourself won't help make anything better. Hiding from Hassan doesn't work either. Getting them fired or making them resign is just running away from your problems. Sooner or later they'll catch up to you and sooner or later you'll have to face them. It's better if you get it done sooner. That way, you won't have to live with the guilt for as long because you know you've payed your punishment.

The world isn't always a fair place. You'll soon learn that with the occupation of the Soviet Communists and Taliban in your country. That's yet to come. But as of right now you need to know that life works in weird ways. It balances things out. You will get your chance to repay your friend. You will get your chance to redeem yourself. You will get your chance to do the right thing. Just be patient.

Good luck,
Amy

Q4 Outside Reading Week 3 Post A

Food is a large factor in the different cultures around the world. The quote I have chosen this week deals with the traditional way of eating in Afghanistan.
"The wives and daughters served dinner--rice, kofta, and chicken qurma--at sundown. We dined the traditional way, sitting on cushions around the room, tablecloth spread on the floor, eating with our hands in groups of four or five from common platters"(85).
According to Amir, this is the traditional way of eating for him. In America, dinners are quite different. The food itself, rice and chicken, can definitely be found on American tables. As a matter of fact, rice and chicken are universal foods because in China, we eat them too. But compared to European style of cuisine, rice is not as common as in other parts of the world, and American food is heavily influenced by European cuisine along with a bit of other cultural dining. The differences come from how we eat. In America, and quite a few places around the world, we sit and eat at tables with utensils, whether that be a fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, etc. Eating with your hands isn't as common unless of course you're eating a sandwich or pizza, not usually rice and chicken. We also don't really sit on the floor in our dining rooms. Floors are reserved for picnics outside on beautiful summer days. And lastly, family gatherings this big don't usually occur very often. When they do, they tend to be on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter where everyone sits at one table, except maybe the younger kids, and eats together from "family styled" platters. On a normal basis, everyone has his or her own plate of food.
The ways of eating are very different in America and in Afghanistan for Amir. While the food may not necessarily be completely different (American cuisine is influenced by other countries' dining), the ways in which we eat seem very different at first, but when analyzed, are similar under certain situations.

More World Issues

“Education Summary” Index-China.com
http://www.index-china.com/index-english/education-s.htm

"Girls Get a Hand to Stay in School" by Lin Shiwei China Daily
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-6400&artno=0000010994&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Girls%20Get%20a%20Hand%20to%20Stay%20in%20School&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

“Higher Education in China” China.com http://english.china.com/zh_cn/education/educational_system/11020788/20040902/11861359.html

Q4 Outside Reading Week 2 Post B

The title of the book I'm reading this quarter is The Kite Runner. Before, I had absolutely no idea what it was about and why it was called that, but now it's clear. Although this would make a great post A, I've already done that. So, in this post, I will enlighten you, the reader, with the customs of kite running, the relationship between Amir and Hassan, and why the title of the book is what it is.

In Afghanistan, every winter, there is a kite fighting contest. It is held throughout neighborhoods and lasts until the last kite is standing which can sometimes be all day. Spectators gather on the roofs to watch while competitors' kites soar in the sky. Kite runners wait tensely for a fallen kite. It is an all-out event that many Afghans participate in. The goal is to be the last kite still flying in the sky. Kites are cut down by the competitors using "glass string" that usually cuts the fingers of the kite flyers. The kite runners are spectators or sometimes the assistants of kite flyers who, after a kite is cut down, chase the fallen kite and keep it as a trophy. There aren't many rules, but the one thing no one most ever do is take a fallen kite out of a kite runner's hands. The biggest award for a kite runner is the last kite cut down by the winning kite flyer. To win the contest is an incredible honor. To be the kite flyer who gets the last fallen kite is like getting a gold medal.

The Kite Runner most likely refers to Hassan, Amir's Hazara friend/servant. An amazing kite runner, Hassan has always been there for Amir. Their relationship is a complicated one. While Hassan is always loyal and respectful, Amir houses a slight resentment for him due to Baba's favoritism towards Hassan. It seems that no matter what they do, Hassan is always better than Amir, except for kite fighting. That is where Amir is strongest. But despite their competitiveness, they both care for each other like brothers. Although this story is told from Amir's point of view, I have come to believe that it is about Hassan, the kite runner.

World Issue

For this "research paper", I have decided to turn my attention to education in China on the secondary levels.

Three articles that might be of some help:
From SIRS-
"Re-Education" by Ann Hulbert New York Times Magazine
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-1301&artno=0000259545&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Re%2DEducation&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y
"The Global Race for Knowledge: China's College Revolution" by Sheila Melvin Wilson Quarterly
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-1301&artno=0000256127&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=The%20Global%20Race%20for%20Knowledge%3A%20China%27s%20College%20Revolution&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y

Other-
"Chinese Higher Education Fails the Test" by Robert Hartmann Asia Times
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HL21Ad01.html

Q4 Outside Reading Week 2 Post A

"Winter was every kid's favorite season in Kabul, at least those whose fathers could afford to buy a good iron stove. The reason was simple: They shut down school for the icy season"(48).

There are many different cultural aspects this quote could talk about. This includes the educational differences in the United States and Afghanistan, at least during the 70s, the distinctions of class and race, and lastly, the similarities between what kids want here and today and what kids had wanted there and then.

The education differences are pretty evident. Today in the United States, we have school throughout the winter time and it's not until summer that we don't have school. For some people, they don't even have a summer vacation due to year round school, a new concept that some schools are trying out. While in Kabul at that time, Amir didn't have school over the winter time. It's one of his favorite seasons not only because he doesn't have school but also because he can sleep in, play with Hassan, and fly kites with Baba, a relationship he wishes to tighten.
This brings us to a similarity. Kids don't like school. It's true. Ask anyone. We don't like homework. We don't like having to sit through lectures on days we could be playing outside. And even though learning is good, we're not always in the mood for it. This, will never change. It's the same now for me as it was then for Amir. For any kid.
The last difference I want to comment on is dealing with class distinctions. In the quote, Amir said that winter was fun for any kid who's father had enough money to buy the a good iron stove. Although this is a rather subtle point, it's important to remember that Amir is a relatively well off boy. His father made a fortune for himself and has a servant. Even though Amir and Hassan are friends, Amir is still Hassan's superior purely because of his race. This concept of racial distinction isn't as clear in the United States today. Sure class distinctions are still evident, but the class distinctions in America aren't always based off of race. They're more based off of whether or not you can be successful enough to make a name for yourself.

Although there are many differences throughout this book, Amir seems like such a typical kid that I sometimes forget he is in a different country during a different time period.

Q4 Outside Reading Week 1 Post B

Reading multiple stories at a time can be a difficult task, but it can also be interesting the similarities one might find between those two stories. The Kite Runner and In the Time of the Butterflies are both novels by non-American authors that revolve around fictional characters in a real life event. Reading them together has helped me see the connections they share with one another and the differences that make them the two completely different novels they are.

The Kite Runner is the story of a boy named Amir living in Afghanistan during the fall of the monarchy, invasion of the Soviets, and rise of the Taliban. It is narrated by our main protagonist who has the many flaws any child, or even person, would. He has grown up in a sheltered setting, living with his rich and successful father. The most important things on Amir's mind is to write and to impress his father and all those that are important to him (Hassan, Ali, and Rahim Kahn). Amir's childhood is a typical one for a privileged child, being part of the majority race and not one to get persecuted by others unlike his friend Hassan. Despite his normality, Amir's life completely changes in the winter of 1975 when turmoil struck Afghanistan.

In the Time of the Butterflies takes place a little farther in the past than The Kite Runner. It is the story of the Mirabal sisters, four girls who grew up in a repressed Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of Trujillo. Patria, the oldest, is the most religious and motherly figure of the four. One wouldn't pin her as a revolutionary but she did name her son after the ones in Cuba. She realized that she was needed. Dede is the second oldest. She is extremely bright when it comes to math and has always been the obedient one. Maybe because of her not as direct involvement in the revolutionary forces Dede is the only surviving sister. But that doesn't mean she isn't brave. When everything was falling apart, it was Dede that held them together. Minerva is the third in line of the Mirabal sisters. She is outspoken and very stubborn. She is willing to give up everything that she loves in hope to save the country that she was raised in. Minerva is willing to give up her life for the greater good of the people. Lastly, there is Maria Teresa, also known as Mate. She is the baby of the family and probably always will be though after Minerva, she is the second to get involved with the revolution. Despite her immaturity, Mate had always looked up to Minerva and knew that this was for the good of everyone.

The differences between the two books are evident. The Kite Runner is clearly about a young boy growing up in Afghanistan while In the Time of the Butterflies is about four girls growing up in the Dominican Republic. The time periods are slightly different and the events that occur are completely unrelated. One book takes place in the Western Hemisphere while the other is in the Eastern Hemisphere. The writing style is different also. ITOB switches narrators throughout the book, giving each sister a turn to tell their story while KR sticks with Amir as our guide through the book. Not to mention, ITOB is clearly a more "girl" book than KR with lots of talk about boys and certain subjects that may make one blush.

Yet regardless of all the differences, the similarities cannot be ignored. Both stories deal with the main character(s) coming of age. Both stories contain political turmoil and social unrest throughout the country that the protagonists inhabit. Both stories show how their lives changed because of certain events in history we all know about. And both stories show the connection between family and friends and how important it is to always keep those you love close because you never know when you're going to need them. Sometimes, an act of courage isn't always done because you feel that bravery inside of you but because you know that if you don't, someone or something you love is going to suffer. Being afraid doesn't mean you aren't brave. It just means you're human.

Q4 Outside Reading Week 1 Post A

Being not far into my book, I haven't really witnessed too much of the main conflict. What I have seen is an introduction to my narrator and characters that are important to Amir. So for this first post, I'm going to talk about family.

This is the quote that I have picked: "I watched him fill his glass at the bar and wondered how much time would pass before we talked again the way we just had. Because the truth of it was, I always felt like Baba hated me a little. And why not? After all, I had killed his beloved wife, his beautiful princess, hadn't I? The least I could've done was to have had the decency to have turned out a little more like him. But I hadn't turned out like him. Not at all"(19).

In Amir's family, it is him and Baba because his mother died giving birth to him. What I'm commenting on is not actually a cultural difference but a similarity. For me, pleasing my parents is something that I find to be important. I want to know that they are proud of me and it seems that when children turn out like their parents, they are more likely to be praised. Perhaps it is because our parents live in the past or because they wish they could live through us. Whatever the truth is, they do tend to push their ideals onto their children. Amir is a child like me. Perhaps he is younger, lives in Afghanistan, and lives decades before me, but he is still a child. And all he really wants to do is make his father proud.
All children, whether they are 5 or 15, whether they live in America or elsewhere in the world, want love and affection from their parents. They want to please their parents and that can cause children to fear them too. It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, what time period you were born, we all want one thing from our parents: the recognition and pride that we are their children, in other words, love. And any negative word or phrase that is uttered about us from our parents may not seem like a big deal to them, but inside, we are dying just a little bit. So that is why, despite our many differences, I can sympathize with Amir when he hears his father saying "If I hadn't seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I'd never believe he's my son"(23).

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

For this quarter, I have chosen to read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Truthfully, I've never really been the type that is interested in modern stories around the world. Being raised up in a slightly sheltered society, I have been perfectly content with reading American and, on the occasion, English authors. Every so often, I get the pleasure of reading something quite different than what I am used to and I think The Kite Runner will be one of those books. It's a book I've wanted to read ever since one of my English teachers recommended it. Unfortunately, with such rules like no reading the same book as someone else in the class and criteria that have been put on my choice of outside reading books, I have been unable to pick up this bestseller. So now, finally, I have the opportunity to read a book that has stuck with so many others who have come to read it ahead of me. I have the chance to break outside of my sheltered world and learn about a time and place when not everything feels safe and sound.