The Kite Runner Argument

In Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner, the argument of cultural differences is very prominent.  Throughout the book, Hosseini compares before- and after-taliban Afghanistan to the United States to show the reader the cultural shock Amir might have experienced.  He also has another argument within this one, but comparing just the two Afghanistans and how the Taliban changed them.  He argues for the old Afghanistan, such a serene place of homliness and community, that it really did exist at one time.  That it wasn't always as bad as it is now.  But then in comparison to the United States, Afghanistan seems so small and dirty.  Though life in the U.S. was a difficult adjustment for the main characters, Hosseini argues that it was definately better than the Afghanistan they left behind.

Belching - compliment or insult?

500 years ago, after enjoying a delectible feast, the head of house would greatfully belch in return for the wonderful meal.  It was a sign of appreaciation and the common courtesy of those medival days.  The louder a person burped, the more they enjoyed the food, making the host feel satisfied and welcoming.  If a guest did not burp, they were considered to be rude and would most likely not welcomed back into that home.

In the 21st century, though, burping is thought of as gross, disgusting, rude, unpleasant, dirty, etc.  Parents always tell their children to not burp at the dinner table because it's impolite, especially when over at another person's house.  My parents didn't care if i did it at home, as long as i knew that it was unexceptable to do anywhere else.

I think that burping should still be considered a notion of thanks and fullfillment and not a sign of imaturity and disrespect. It's just another way of saying how great a meal was and it lets the host/hostness know you want to come back for more. :)

Box Man reflection - numero uno

In the essay, the Box Man has chosen a life of solitude.  He lives by himself, but is perfectly content with that.  He has found peace within himself and does not have to find solace through anyone else.  Lonliness is something entirely different. To be lonely, one must long for something they do not have and feel empty without, just as the "soup lady" and "cat lady" did in the essay.  The Box Man does not long for anything or anyone.  He is satisfied with being alone and has chosen to ignore all those who attempt to "salvage" him.

For the majority of us in Vacaville, we see homeless people as drunks or addicts, who could get a job if they really wanted to but chose to be lazy.  That's the typical stereotype.  But when we look at "The Box Man", the author is telling us never to assume anything.  That homeless person we see on the street corner every day might very well be happy with sleeping under a shady tree in the park, away from the noisey commuters.  We should never assume anything about anyone just based on their appearances or the lifestyle they've chosen.

Compare and Contrast

Similar to the homeless man and the two woman in "The Box Man", one can compare my pet gecko to my mother at work.  My gecko's name is Sahara and she resides in my room, atop my dresser inside a large, glass tank.  My mom works at Buckingham inside what is known as "The Fishbowl".  It's the second office area and has a giant wall of glass for students to come up and get their late passes from my mom.  Both my mom and Sahara are trapped in a bubble, or cage, all day long, Sahara hearing the constant chirping of live crickets (which drives me crazy) and my mom having to listen to the phone ring with sorry excuses.  They both see the outside world from behind glass, almost like they have no control over what goes on.  Sahara has her daily routine: sleep inside a rock, then in a log, and then eat and repeat; as well as my mom: write passes, enter them in a log, and then eat and repeat.  My mother and pet gecko are two very different things, but when put together, they both lead very similar lives, although they may not even realize it.

The Kite Runner

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, tells the heart-breaking story of young boy's life and coming of age during a Taliban-ridden Afghanistan.  Amir, the troubled narrator, grows up in a household with only a father who never seems to be satisfied.  Amir longs only for the attention of his father and to please him, but he doesn't know how.  Their servants, Ali and his son Hassan, play a huge role in Amir's life, although he may not realize it until later.  He shared a strange brotherhood with Hassan.  They were such good companions, but only when it was convienent for Amir.  Forced to move away from the only home he has, Amir faces challenges most have never known to exist and he must make decisions that will completely alter his life.  This powerful and captivating book tells of the cruelty and horrors of modern Afghanistan, and yet, in the midst of all the hurt, a touching story of love and redemption is born.

Blog #2 - Nonfiction Readings

Usually I spend my time reading fictional books, but I have read a few that fall into the nonfiction category.  For example, I have read a biography on Wilma Rudolph, The Diary of Anne Frank (along with every other student who had Mrs. Ball), and many, many articles from National Geographic and Smithsonian.

In the biography on Wilma Rudolph, she talked about her struggles with Polio as a young girl and how she overcame it to become an olypic athlete.  The themes of persistance and determination were constant throughout her life.  The Diary of Anne Frank is the journal kept by a young girl during the German invasion of Poland.  She experiences all the usuall teenage emotions while in hiding, from rebellion towards her parents to her first love.  But on top of all of those, she lives with fear every day for she never knows which one will be her last. 

The National Geographic and Smithsonian articles varied by topics, but all had something to do with nature.  I've read reports on certain species being on the brink of extinction, why that is and what we're doing to prevent it.  I've also come across articles of adventurers, hiking their way across the Himilayas or to the peak of Mount Everest.  They talked about how the cold, bitter nights and lack of oxygen made the journey difficult, but in the end it was worth it.

For the majority of nonfiction pieces i've read, the main theme has been that persistence pays off, and with a little hard work and determination, anything is possible.

About ME.

The name's Dosker.  Jordan Dosker.
5'7". Blond, Blue eyes and a million freckles.  Who am I exactly?
I'm a girl who loves music and plays the Euphonium in band.
I'm on the tennis and badminton teams at my high school.
I adore my friends and love to just chill.
I want to work in the biology or humanitarian field when I'm older. I'm not entirely sure of specific details yet...
That's all of course my cover for the awesome dective/hero work I do at the local underground agency.
But let's get down to business now.
My mission in life:
Help save people from the horrors of our world today like forced labor, genocide and human trafficking.

*que 007, mission impossible, and the spiderman theme song all in one.