blog 11

  In my opinion, the book seems pretty interesting to me so far. I have learnt a bunch of things from it.
  Sookan is still my favorite character. I am a boarding student as she is, thus we have a lot of same experiences. She is intelligence, patient and hard working. A lot of details in the story impressed me a lot. Such as she keeps trying to involve in the environment around her. I understand that America is a whole new place for her and she had a hard time understanding other friends' culture and communicate with them, but she still did it. She is really warm hearted, an example from page 32: " Marci had left Friday afternoon to go home to Scarsdale. I wished I could have joined her; she looked lonesome" We can tell by this quote that Sookan consider her friends' feeling. Another quote from page 57: "Everything is so different here, I said slowly. In Korea, such a thing would not be possible. Even married couples do not show such affection in public." She is trying to compare the two different cultures together to show her friend her thoughts. It's been tough for her to improve the friendship, but since she is willing to open her mind and try to communicate, I bet she is going to be successful later.
  I have noticed that Sookan is kind of shy though she works so hard. A quote from page 61" Sookan Bak, they called. I was stunned. I could not believe someone had nominated me. My heart started to pound. I wanted to accept the nomination. I would have loved to serve on the student council, and I was sure I could do a good job." This paragraph really show her mind. It happened to me too, when I was competing for the group leader in my Biology class, it's really excited to competing in a unfamiliar environment, but when I actually did it, I just couldn't believe myself.
  This book has motivated me a lot. First, Sookan is a only international student in her school, and she tried to talk with her classmates. I also is a international student, but sometimes I feel a little bit scared to talk in class or some places. I need to speak more in class. Second, Sookan studied very hard. She always sick because of study, but it is not good to study that hard. I need to focus on study, and also learn from Sookan's skills.

Questions

1 Why Sookan's sister wanted her to write journal for her?

2 Why Sookan didn't go to meeting?

chapter 6-12 study guide

Chapter 6
1. Sookan's sister wanted her write about her school life, and write it everyday. Sookan has lots of work to do, so she can not write everything for her sister. That is problem between Sookan and her sister.

Chapter 7
1. Quote from page 55-56: (Ellen said." It's important for you to check out the social scene.)
2. The gap between their culture makes her have new understandings on independence and making choices.
3. I think she should follow her new understanding because she is in a new environment.

Chapter 8
1. Because she was absent.
2. No, because it's always good to face the problem.
3. It was a letter to her mother, telling about her current situation.

Chapter 9
1. It's good because she can understand new environment and the trip can improve her friendship with Ellen, but it's also bad that she will trouble Ellen's family.

Chapter 10
1. It's the shower room.
2. her stomach felt like twisted knots.
3. Quote from page 76: " You are all right and the only thing you have to do now is get plenty of sleep"

Chapter 11
1. Her mother's main focus is on her health, and her sister just want her to face her life full of challenges.

Chapter 12
1. She wanted to prepare Korean dinner.
2. Marci baked some brownies and Ellen, Kyle bought come poinsettia and cut flowers.
3. Sister Reed, Sarah and Mrs Bennett.
4. She is all alone away from home, she needs people to support her, and take care of her. The gathering can improve the relationship between her and the people around her, especially friends.

Letter from Sucan

Good afternoon, sister. 

My travel was safely, and I went to school before 2 weeks. I took a long time in the travel, but I enjoyed that. I'm the only international student in my school, and I'm trying to talk with American students. But I can not play with them very well. Marci is my roommate, she has bad relationship with her sister. 

I love you!

       

Character's information

She was born in Pyongyang, North Korea now. She fled to South Korea for higher education. She got her B.A. from Manhattanville college 1962, and she became a school teacher in New York.