TKAM Ch. 26-29 Journal #7: Scout

My assessment of the past few months is hard to explain. It’s been a hard and exciting time, yet scary too. School started again. School is very boring and I feel like I could learn more being out in the real world than stuck in a classroom all day. One time my teacher my talking about the Jews over in Germany and how they’re being persecuted by Hitler. She said that’s the difference between us and Germany and that alledgedly we don’t persecute anyone. I don’t understand how this can be true though because I overheard her talking at the courthouse and she was talking bad about the colored people. That’s persecuting isn’t it? I tried to ask Jem about it but when I mentioned the courthouse he got real mad at me, so I didn’t bring it up again.
Bob Ewell got fired at his job at the WPA. Atticus said it was from laziness, but Bob blamed it on Atticus. I thought this was somewhat true, but it was Bob Ewell’s fault. He ended up threatening Atticus and it made Jem and I real scared for him. Another thing that added to our fears was that Judge Taylor’s house was almost broken into, but he was home the robber left.
I over heard Atticus talking and I found out that Mr. Ewell was giving Helen a hard time when she walked to Link Deas’ place to work. He told Bob to stop and he did. I thought it was very nice of Mr. Deas to offer Helen a job, seeing as her husband died and she has kids to feed.
Halloween came up and this year there was a pageant. I was to play the part of a ham. The costume was an inconvienced but I consented to wear it. I thought that Atticus and Aunt Alexandra would go watch the play, but they were both too tired so I acted out my part in front of them and Calpurnia. They said I was a very nice ham.
When the pagean night came Jem walked me to the auditorium. On the way there Cecil scared us, it was a good joke. When the play started I sat down on the ground to await my turn to go on stage. I think I fell asleep but I woke up to the band playing and I thought that maybe I could go and catch up with all the rest of them without being noticed. I came out when Mrs. Merriweather was carrying the state flag. Everybody laughed really hard and Mrs. Merriweather made me feel really bad about “ruining her play”.
On the way back from the play something really scary happened. I was wearing my ham costume and Jem and I were walking home in the pitch black dark. Jem heard something and we stopped, then I heard something finally, and we were attacked! Everything was all a blur because I couldn’t see, I kept tripping and I heard Jem yell out. Someone came to help us though and he carried Jem back to our house. Jem had a broken arm; I was alright but bruised up.
I had to explain to Atticus and Sheriff what happened. Sheriff said that Jem didn’t stab Mr. Ewell, but Atticus said he did. I understood what Atticus was saying, but Sheriff finally convinced Atticus that he didn’t.
Then I pointed to the man who had helped us, who was standing in the corner. It was then that I realized it was Boo Radley.
“Hey, Boo,” I said.

TKAM Ch. 16-19 Journal #6: Atticus

Today is the day of the case. I don’t know if we’ll win, but I’m hoping that the jury will actually listen to what we have to say. They won’t be PREJUDICE with Tom even though he’s black. Everyone from all over came to Maycomb to see the case. They did not come with SUBTLETY either. They packed picnics and sat outside the courthouse. I asked the kids not to come downtown.
I was trying to be calm about the case. Heck Tate came to the stand first. He told what he said was what happened and I asked him some questions. I find it interesting that no one called a doctor for poor Mayella. Tate described her injuries and then Mr. Ewell was called up to the stand. There home and their family life is not a good one. The possibility that it was actually Bob Ewell who raped Mayella is a big one. When he said his story, it was hard for me to pay attention. I already know that Tom is innocent. As much as I hate to say it Bob Ewell is trash. I’m sure that he’s lying and he’s just putting the blame on Tom.
I learned in his questioning that he was left handed and Mayella was hit in the left eye. I know that it’s possible for someone’s right hand to hit someone’s left eye, but that is IRRELEVENT because she had bruise marks made by a left hand.
Then Mayella was called to the stand. She told her side of the story. Some things matched up, but the timing and people’s roles were wrong. She started crying and she was crying about me. I felt so sorry for her because I knew her father was probably the one who had done this FRAUD. I was somewhat surprised that she got mad at me for calling her ma’am and things like that. I know that she probably has never been treated with respect and when I called her that she thought I was making fun of her, which I wasn’t. I left Judge Taylor to deal with that PREDICAMENT. She was having a hard time describing the events that happened. I suppose it was hard to lie when it was your father who had done something like that to you.
I confronted her outright and asked if it were her father who had raped her, but she stated very clearly that he had done nothing to hurt her. I felt so bad for making her hate me, I wish I didn’t have to speak the truth.
Tom Robinson was called up next, as he was my only witness. He told his story, which to me made the most sense. He didn’t fumble at all while he was talking, except to say that something wasn’t fit for the children and women to hear. He’s a nice man and very respectable, Mr. Link Deas even stood up in court to say so. He was sent out then, but I thought it was very nice of him to say something like that.
When Mr. Gilmer questioned him, I got rather mad. He treated Tom like he was nothing, like he wasn’t important. Tom answered COMPLACENTLY though, he didn’t give any trouble. I saw movement up on the balcony and I wondered who had left. So far the case wasn’t going bad, but I’m not sure if the jury is in our favor. It’s hard to educate people in a courtroom.

TKAM Ch. 13-15 Journal #5: Dill

I had to run away. I couldn’t stay with my family anymore. I know they don’t hate me, but they don’t need me. I was tired of being told to go somewhere else and to be basically told that I wasn’t wanted. So I ran away to Scout. Maycomb is my real home since it’s where I’m most happy. I had taken 13 dollars from my mom’s purse and got on the 9 o’clock train to Maycomb. I walked a long away to Jem and Scout’s house. When I got here I had to hide under the bed for about 2 hours. It was all stuffy and cramped under here, and when I heard them eating it drove me crazy! I was so hungry.
Finally Jem and Scout went to bed. I had just stuck my arm out to get out from under the bed when Scout stepped on it! I pulled it back fast and I heard her call out to Jem. They thought I was a snake! I waited until Jem poked me with a broom until I stuck my head out. Apparently I scared him real bad because he tried to hit me but he missed. When I saw Scouts face she looked surprised but I think she looked happy. She asked how I got here and I told her this long, exciting story. Then Jem asked how I got here and I told them the less exciting version.
Jem said I should let my mother know where I am. It was when he said this that I realized how much he changed. He was acting like a grown up. Then he did something an adult would do; he went and called Atticus. I wasn’t that scared of Atticus himself, I was scared that he was going to send me back. He was nice enough though; he told Scout to give me something to eat and then I said should take a bath. I was scared when I heard Aunt Rachel’s voice in the hall. She talked a lot and I tried to be on my best behavior through out the whole thing. At the end she said I could stay for a night and I smiled because I knew I would probably get to stay longer.
I went to sleep in Jem’s room. It was kind of hard to sleep with a traitor but I knew he meant well so I didn’t get mad at him that much. Early in the morning I crept into Scout’s room. She looked real peaceful lying there asleep. There wasn’t any room for me so I punched her to get her to scoot over. She asked why I had run away and I tried to explain to her. Scout’s got Jem to be with when Atticus is away. When Jem leaves Scout she always has Calpurnia. I don’t’ have anyone when my parents send me away. I think they love me but they have a funny way of showing it.
I started getting really sleepy and I just said whatever came to my mouth. Then Scout asked why Boo Radley never ran away, I told her what I thought was true, that he had no where to run to.
I was allowed to stay in Maycomb after a lot of pleading and convincing. It was a nice week with Scout and Jem. I missed being with those two. There was something different however about his stay, their Aunt Alexandra was there. She was an interesting woman. We were all sitting in the living room one evening when there was a knock on the door. Atticus went out to go meet with whoever it was. We looked out the window and saw it was a big group of people. They were talking about the Robinson guy, and they all seemed kind of nervous. They left eventually though.
A couple days later Scout and Jem appeared at my window. I followed them out to the sidewalk where I asked them what’s going on. Scout said that Jem’s got the look-arounds and then he said he’s just got this feeling. We walked down town and wound up at the jail. Some cars pulled up and men got out and surrounded Atticus. They started talking and the Scout ran over to Atticus. Jem and I followed; it looked kind of dangerous over there. The men started saying that Atticus had to get us out of there. Then Scout started talking to one of them like she knew him. It was Mr. Cunningham. She started talking about Walter Cunningham and entailments. He didn’t acknowledge her at first, but then he nodded. She just kept talking, oblivious to the fact that everyone was staring at her. When she finally realized this she asked, “What’s the matter?” Then Mr. Cunningham put his hands on her shoulders and said, “I’ll tell him you say hey, little lady.” Then everyone got in their car and left. Atticus talked to Mr. Underwood, and then we all went home. Scout and I walked together, watching Atticus and Jem up ahead.

TKAM Ch. 10-11 Jounral #4: Scout

Did you know Atticus was called One-Shot Finch? Well I didn’t, and I don’t know why people don’t tell me these things. Here Jem and I were thinking that Atticus was just old and couldn’t do anything, when really I think he’s the bravest man I know. He shot that crazy dog in one shot! Right in the head! Jem and I were walking down the street when we saw Tim Johnson was walking all funny toward us. He was a long way off but Jem wanted to go run and tell Cal. He did, and Cal called Atticus. When everyone was inside and the gun was brought out it was scary. Everything was silent as Tim Johnson slowly came into view. Atticus had to take the gun and it me scared half to death! He was too old to shoot a mad dog, wasn’t he? He aimed the gun, and his body seemed to relax. He was perfectly still and right when Tim Johnson leapt to come toward us, Atticus shot him! It was a perfect shot; anyone or anything that’s being aimed at by Atticus is in peril. I wanted to tell everyone at school about Atticus, but Jem said that I shouldn’t. If Atticus had wanted everyone to know about it he would’ve, instead of remaining inconspicuous.
I guess Jem wanted a change of scenery, or maybe he felt more grown up or something, because we went further to meet Atticus after work. To do this we had to go past Ms. Dubose’s house. I would rather not do this, but Jem said I had to grow up. She was the meanest old lady that ever lived. She always talked bad about Atticus and made me feel real embarrassed because he was taking that Tom person’s case. Jem always got the maddest though. When I say mad I mean crazy. He had just bought me my baton and we were walking back from town. When we came to Ms. Dubose’s house she wasn’t on the porch. Then Jem ran into her yard with my baton and cut all the flowers off her plants. Then took my baton and snapped it in a half! I started screaming and he told me to shut up, but I didn’t and he kicked me and I fell. He didn’t seem at all sorry for being cantankerous, but he seemed sorry about making me fall. We went home to wait for Atticus.
When he came through the door, his voice called out to Jem. It didn’t sound like a happy voice. Atticus had my baton in his hand as he walked in the room, and he asked Jem if he were responsible, but he asked it in a way that seemed like he already knew. Jem said yes, I don’t think he even thought to contridict Atticus. Atticus told Jem to go talk to Ms. Dubose, I was going to go with him in case she shot him with her CSA pistol, but Atticus called me back.
When Jem came back he said that she had told him he had to read to her for 2 hours for a month! It was a horrible punishment but I went with him every time. It was awful; I tried not to look at her. She had a lot of spit that always came out of her mouth. Her mouth always moved as if it were saying inaudible things but it was moving by itself I think. She would always pick on Jem and correct him at every word he said wrong or couldn’t say at all. As soon as the alarm clock went off we got out of there fast. One time Atticus came by, and I found out that she had been setting it later and later each time. Finally it was over for good though and me and Jem were free!
One evening we were all together and Atticus got a call from Ms. Dubose and he went over her house. When he came back he told us she had died. I didn’t know what I felt. I think it would be wrong to feel happy that someone died, so I settled on relief. Atticus said she was a morphine addict and that she was trying to get herself off of it. She died with a clean system, which Jem told me was a good thing. Atticus said that there was more to bravery than shooting something and that Ms. Dubose was a great lady. I’m not sure I believe that because she sure was mean to us, but when I left the room Jen was playing with the petals on the flower Ms. Dubose had given to him. I thought that was a nice thing to do even for a sick, mean lady.

TKAM Ch 8-9 journal #3: Atticus

I’m having a hard time with Jem and Scout. Don’t get me wrong, I love them both and I think they are the greatest things in my life. It’s just hard raising them without a mother, and I wonder if I’m doing the right things. Their Aunt sure doesn’t think so; it was so hard to take all the woman’s complaining. I felt bad for Scout the most; she was always getting picked on. I suppose that she could be more girly, but with an older brother as her idol, I don’t think she knows any better. In time I think she will be become acquainted with the feminine side of life, even if right now she’s perplexed on why some one would want to wear a dress.
The children seem to be fanatical with Boo Radley. It gets worse when Dill comes and I’m debating whether or not I should have a serious talk with them. When poor Mrs. Radley died the children asked if I had seen Boo, which I hadn’t. More excitement came when snow appeared the next morning. It was the coldest winter is God knows how long. I was in the middle of shaving when Scout started screaming, of course I ran to her, only to find that she had discovered snow. She and Jem were so excited; it made me happy just to see them happy.
When I cam home from dinner, I found that Jem had done good work while I was away. He and Scout had created a likeness of Mr. Avery and even though I thought it was very funny, I couldn’t let them keep it the front yard. They disguised it a little, which satisfied me. I made sure to compliment Jem, he deserved it.
I awoke in the middle of the night to the smell of burning smoke. My first thought was the children; I needed to get them out. I saw that it was Ms. Maudie’s house, the one adjacent to ours. Once we all got outside I made sure they were well away from the flames. After everything was done, we all went back inside the house. I noticed a blanket around Scout’s shoulders, and they informed that they didn’t know where or who it had come from. I came to the conclusion that it was Boo Radley himself, since he would’ve been the only one able to do that.
I’m not really making any progress with my case. Everyone is giving me a hard time about it, but I can handle it. It’s when people give my children a hard time about it is when it really makes me angry. I told Scout not to fight with anyone that called me that stupid name; I told here that it would make me angry. She’s too young to understand why I would defend Tom Robinson. The world is changing; we can’t have separate people in a place where we are supposed to be united. I’m proving something to myself by taking on this case, even if I know I won’t win it.
The relatives are always a hard time to overcome. Scout’s Aunt Alexandra isn’t the easiest person to get a long, but I put on a brave face for Jem and Scout. It doesn’t when Scout has taken on the liking of cussing. Alexandra gives me a hard time about raising her. I do the best I can and Calpurnia helps a lot, but it seems like Alexandra doesn’t approve. We left Finch Landing early, Scout got in some trouble with Francis. Jack took care of it, not the way I would’ve done, but he’s learning. I gave him some advice when we got back home and we had a conversation about the Robinson case. It was nice talking to an adult that understands.

TKAM Ch. 4-7 Journal 2: Dill

I always have a good time when I come to Maycomb. It’s definitely because of Scout and Jem, without them the summer would be long and boring. The best part is when we do stuff with Boo Radley. This summer we acted out whole scenes of Boo’s life. Jem always got to fake stab me in the leg with the scissors. Sometime we quibbled about which part we would play but we mostly got fair turns. One time though we were so caught up in the play that none of us noticed Atticus standing there watching us. We stopped real quick though when we saw him. He would get mad at us for acting out the things we did and he would say that we were tormenting Boo.

It all started the first day I came back. I had told Jem and Scout about the Hot Steam’s and Jem got mad at Scout for disagreeing with him. Scout wanted to be pushed in the tire and when Jem pushed her he pushed her right into Boo Radley’s yard! Scout got real scared and was frozen for a little and then ran back to us. Jem then got the idea to act out Boo Radley, which we did all summer long.

I started hanging out with Jem a lot more. Me and Scout’s relationship teetered on the edge most of the time though. I wasn’t sure if she was mad at me for proposing to her then leaving her out almost always. She started hanging out Miss Maudie, who I think is a nice lady. She makes us cakes and lets us explore her backyard. I felt bad because of me and Jem’s evasion of Scout, but Jem seemed intent on not hanging out with a “girl”, as he says.

One day I started thinking that Boo might like some company. If he had survived the tyranny of his father he might want some friends to talk to. Jem and I decided to give him a note by sticking it through the shutter. We were right in the middle of doing it when Atticus comes walking by! I started ringing the alarm bell even though I knew it would do no good. Atticus got really mad but I think that we could agree unanimously that he was trying hard to keep a straight face. He had tricked Jem with some fancy words and probably found it funny.

On the last night before I left Maycomb we went for a walk. Jem and I had already planned on peeking in Boo Radley’s window. We hadn’t planned on Scout coming along, but she did, which I didn’t mind. We went around the back fence and crept real quietly up to the back porch. I looked in the window and didn’t see anything except a little bit of light. Jem wanted to go on the porch, I figured he’d be ok because he’d already touched the house before and he hadn’t gotten killed. When he stood on the step it squeaked really loud, Jem was scared and then hopped up to the top. Then he crawled to the window, it was easy to see him because the moon was really bright that night. I looked over at Scout to see if she was ok, and when I did I don’t think I had ever seen someone so scared in my entire life. I looked in the direction of where she was looking at and saw the most terrifying thing ever. It was a shadow and it was going to kill Jem! We ran out of there as fast as we could. Everything was a blur, there was a gunshot, then we went under a fence, then Jem lost his pants, there was screaming, and then back to the street.

We ran to the crowd that was around the Radley place where I had to come up with a lie to explain Jem’s lost pants. In the end it was all ok, and I had to say goodbye to Jem and Scout for the summer. I was about to leave, but decided to kiss Scout because we were engaged after all. I can’t wait till I come back next summer, that’s the best time out of the whole year.

TOKM Ch.1-3 Journal #1: Jem

This summer had been a great one, probably, well maybe, the most the exciting one yet. We got Dill this summer from Meridian. He came for the summer to stay with his aunt, but he left when school started. He was always thinking of crazy things to do, he dared me to touch the Radley Place! Dill was fascinated by the house, he would stare it at and wonder what was going on inside. I told him the absolute truth about Boo. Miss Crawford told me everything about what happened. But that didn’t stop Dill, no way. He wanted to make Boo come out of the house! I already knew that he came out at night and walked around town. Dill didn’t care that Boo was one malevolent person. One day Dill made a bet that I couldn’t go past the front gate. I was real scared at first; wouldn’t you be intimidated if you had to go up to where Boo Radley lived? I had never said no to any dare, but this one was a tough one. I could die! Finally Dill irked me enough by saying that I was too scared and that people from Meridian were braver than people in Maycomb. So I walked to the corner and stood there staring at the house. I was trying to think of a way to not put my life in danger when Dill made a compromise, he said that all I had to do what just touch the house, and he wouldn’t consider the dare declined. So I said yes, and ran as fast as I could, touched the house, and ran back faster than I’d ever run away from that cursed house.
When Dill had to leave it was a sad day. I had been nice having some one to run around with me and Scout. In the summer Scout is the best, she’ll go a long with all of my pronouncements no matter if they’re true or not. I just speak my mind and Scout believes it. I told her that when school starts it’ll be different. I can’t have my little sister following me everywhere. Even if we do have a lot of fun re-enacting scenes from books and having adventures, school is my place to be older.
I had to walk her to school the first day. (Atticus persuaded me.) It wasn’t that bad, not too many people saw me so I wasn’t upset or anything. My morning was uneventful, but when I asked Scout how hers was, it was a different story. The new teacher, Miss Caroline, had gotten irritated that Scout could read. I didn’t see the problem but Miss Caroline was using a new teaching method and I figured she knew best, she was beautiful after all. Scout just had to persevere through the day, it was her first and she needed to get used to it.
At lunch time I walk out and I see Scout messing up a Cunningham. It saw that it was Walter as I walked closer. I told her to stop; it was unfair that she was bigger than he was. She then explained how Miss Caroline had gotten her in trouble. I don’t think it was Miss Caroline’s fault any more than it was Scout’s. Miss Caroline is new to the town; she wouldn’t know everybody’s business like everyone else does. I felt bad for Walter though and invited him to lunch.
Calpurnia cooked a real good meal, but I guess Walter felt the need to add molasses to everything. I understood though, he probably never gets to have the stuff. Scout did not get this at all though and she asked very rudely what he was doing. Walter got all ashamed and Calpurnia asked Scout to come in the kitchen. I could hear some of what Calpurnia said to her and I felt bad. Scout was so young, but how else was she supposed to learn about the ways of people?
There was more trouble after lunch, with Burris. Scout told me everything that Saturday in between trips of taking supplies up to me in the tree house. He was very mean to Miss Caroline and he shouldn’t have said those things. I think she’ll get used the ways of Maycomb though; it’ll just take some time.
- Jem

Immigration Reflection

Immigration Project Reflection


Olivia Pardo

I enjoyed reading my lit circles book a lot. Hello, America was more of story than a history book. I was definitely happy with my choice because this book kept me interested in the life of a young Jewish immigrant. It taught me a lot about what immigrants had to go through back then to start a life. I learned that they usually went through services that helped them find jobs and get in contact with people that would help them settle in. I didn't know this and I thought it was nice that people would go through a lot of trouble to help new immigrants. My book wasn't a really long book but I think some people needed more time to read the required amount of pages each lit circle meeting. The only thing I would add to the LC process is more time to complete the reading part of the assignment. I like blogging for the assignments but I like meeting in person better. I like it better in person because when everybody reads, we have better discussions about what's going on in the book. On the blogs it's hard to talk about things because we aren't talking in person. The only other problem with blogging was that my Internet wasn't working for a lot of the time and it would have been easier if I was filling out a DJ instead of having to get on the Internet. I like the format better of the the blog posts than the DJ though, it was so much better than filling out everything in the DJ.

My novel didn't really focus on the concentration camps that Elli and her mother had to go through. I wanted to make this the main idea in my painting to bring attention to it. I wanted to show them escaping the Czech Republic to come to America for a better life. I've never had to go through something as horrible as they went through, but I've moved around a lot all my life. Each move was made to get my family to someplace better, a bigger house, a better job, whatever was needed. Elli's family is like mine in this way because we both moved to someplace better. I feel like my painting turned out good because to me it tells my thoughts very well. I think that if I had put more detail into painting the barbed wire fence it would have looked better as if I had spent more time on it. I liked reflecting in this way more because it allowed me to be more creative in displaying my thoughts. I liked coming up with a way to show what I was thinking in a way besides writing. I learned to visualize my thoughts and I learned how to make them clearer and easier to understand.

Another part that I liked about this project was the in person interview. I think I liked this part because I knew the person I interviewed so it felt a lot more comfortable talking to her instead of a stranger. It was easy talking about her life and asking her questions. The in person interview was the only one that I actually enjoyed because all the others were somewhat boring. I think that we could have combined the interviews at least into just two because the questions could be put together and still make sense. The things I learned from doing an interview over the phone was that because the person can't see your face, your voice has to express your feelings to show that your excited, curious, or surprised. While doing an interview in person you have to use your voice and your body language to show that you're interested in the person's story. I never did an email interview but I guess you might want to comment on some of their answers instead of just saying thanks or not answering at all.

Talking to someone who had been through the immigration process helped me understand how an immigrant felt coming here and what things effected them. My person didn't really talk about the immigration process but more about adjusting to America. She also immigrated more recently so there wasn't a lot of problems and issues with legal things. Since I know my person very well, I want to put a lot of effort into my gift for her. I think also because we are close she will appreciate my gift more because she knows me. I'm happy I get to give her something in return for taking a long amount of time with me helping me with this project.

Hello, America #6

Quote #1: Elli: "Are you interested in the presidential campaign?"

Significance: It shows how Elli is adjusting to her life in America. By now she's been here a while, and she's becoming very familiar with America. She is involved in the presidential campaign, showing that she is part of the U.S now and she wants to see who will lead her country. She cares about America and wants to be a part of it.

Personal connection: I can connect because I feel like Elli does. When I am new too something, or I don't know much about it, I don't really care for it. Once I get used to it I start to become more involved, like Elli. I care about what is going to happen next, and how I can influence it.

Question #1: Are the presidential candidates in the book actual real ones from the past?

Quote #2: Elli: I want you to be proud of me, Papa!

Significance: This shows how Elli's life was back home. She obviously loved her dad a lot and wanted to come to America because it was her father's dream country. Every thing that she did in America was to help her family and try to make her dad proud. Even though her father's dead, Elli still wants to have the life in America that her father would've wanted her and her mother to have.

Character judgement, Elli's father: Elli's father must have been a very good person for Elli to try as hard she does to make him proud. He seems like he influenced Elli to dream big and work hard. From what Elli and her family have said about her father, she has a lot of his personality in her and it makes her a better person.

Question #2: Did the book ever say her father's name?

Hello, America #5

Quote #1 Elli: "Camp?" I ask, astonished.

Significance: This reminds Elli of how her life was back in her home country. When she was asked to be a counselor at summer camp she thought it meant a concentration camp. It shows how much the concentration camps effected her and her life. Elli doesn't know everything about America, which is why she thought America would actually even have concentration camps.

Personal connection: I can connect because Elli talked about how she felt like an outsider when she went to the summer camp and I felt that way when I first went to summer camp because a lot of other people had been there the summer before and they were all friends.

Question #1: Elli doesn't talk much about what happened in the concentration camps, do you think her experience was bad, or horrifying?

Quote #2, Elli's class: "Open it! Open it!"

Significance: This shows how people treat Elli in America. Her class of 1st graders all love her and gave her a gift at the end of the year. It shows that Elli is well liked by all and she is being welcomed in America. She is adjusting well to her new life.

Personal connection: At the end of 5th grade my class gave our teacher a gift too to show that we'd miss her when we left the school to go on to middle school. We didn't give her bowl
like Elli's class did but we still gave her a gift.
Question: Will Elli see her class again and will they remember her or forget about her?

Hello, America #4

Quote #1 Elli: "I... I didn't know. Where I come from... Czechoslovakia... in Czechoslovakia we hitch rides on the highway all the time."

Significance: This shows what Elli's life was like back in her home country. She learned a lesson in America to not take rides from strangers, something she thought she could do. Back in her home country she could get a ride from anyone without worrying about being in danger. She has to learn that in America you just can't do that.

Personal connection: I can connect to this because everybody has learned something new when they travel to different places. You always find out about things that you can do in your own home that you can't do in other places.

Question: Is Elli going to be as trusting now?

Quote #2: Roberto: "Are you a newcomer in this country?"

Significance: Roberto shows how people have treated Elli. Almost everybody has treated her with kindness and teaches her new things. Roberto seems to be interested a lot in Elli, it showed when he taught her how to play tennis and asked her out on a date. Everybody seems to be interested in Elli and it shows that she's having a good time making her life and getting more comfortable with America.

Character judgement: Roberto seems to be a nice guy. I think he's actually a little scared of Elli when he heard her make that speech because he didn't think she was actually smart. But then he asked her out for another date to talk and he seemed like he was saying goodbye which confused me because he seemed like he was a really interested in Elli,

Question: What happened to Roberto? He seemed really sad when he dropped Elli off...

Hello, America #3

Quote #1, Elli: I can’t believe it. No business license?

Significance: This shows the challenges that Elli faces in America. She doesn’t know a lot of things that would benefit her and help rise in the world. She could miss opportunities that would make her life better because she doesn’t know all she could do or have.

Personal connection: My personal connection is that I have been in this situation before. When I don’t know something that would help me I end up having to go through a lot more than I had to. I don’t know all of my options and I don’t benefit from it.

Question: Have you been in this situation before? What was it?

Quote #2, Elli: Sally and Evelyn have become my close friends.

Significance: This shows that Elli is being treated well by people n America. Her, Sally, and Evelyn grow close and they show her what tuna and a milkshake are. They know that she’s not from America and they enjoy showing her new things.

Personal connection: This has happened to me in my old school where I was the only new kid in the 5th grade class. Even though I was new everyone was nice and I made really good friends on my first day. They showed me around and ate lunch with me and welcomed me into their group.

Question: Does Elli really love Alex?

Hello, America #2

Quote #1 Elli, narration: Our first Passover Seder in America- it is a happy event after all.

Significance: The significance is that Elli and her family are bringing their own religion to America. Elli was worried that things wouldn't be the same in America but the Passover Seder turns out alright in the end. In the beginning she was wondering if it was a good thing that they started their journey on the sabbath and ended on it and now she knows that it was "a good omen", as she puts it.

Personal connection: I connect to this because I would feel exactly the same as Elli does. I would be happy that I could do the same thing I did back in my own country in a new one. It would make me feel like my old life hadn't been forgotten even though I'd traveled somewhere totally different.

Question: Do you think religion is very important to Elli personally or is it more of a family tradition that makes her feel at home?

Quote #2 Uncle Martin: "Being a newcomer is a learning experience."

Significance: This answers "the hardships they had to endure" question. Elli and her mother didn't know you couldn't just leave your grocery cart full of bought items outside a store or else someone will steal it. Elli says that to her it was as if her trust was broken in America. She had thought that in America everything would be perfect and that there wouldn't be thieves and bad things. She and her mother have to learn a lot about the new life they will start.

Personal connection: I feel like how she does sometimes. When I trust that people are good enough to not do something bad, but then they do. Like Elli I'm disappointed that people can't be good enough inside to realize that it's wrong. An example would be like something similar to what happened with Elli, when my phone got stolen at school I thought that someone would be good enough to turn it in, but they didn't and I was disappointed.

Question: What other kinds of mistakes will Elli make?

Hello, America #1

Quote #1 pg. 22, Elli: My God. In America, time has stood still. Staggering amounts of food, consumed with apparent unconcerns. Such a glut of food and drink... taken for granted!

The signifigance is how their life was like in their home country. Elli's saying that over there there wasn't enough food to go around, but over in America there's so much food and life is so different. To Elli it seems like no one is going hungry and there is no trouble to cause pain. Elli realizes that alot of people in America have never experienced war and she knows they take a lot of things for granted.

I can connect to the story because whenever I go somewhere completely new everything always seems weird to me. Everything is different and I'm not used to the way life is like Elli feels.

Question: Is America still like this compared to other countries?3

Quote #2 pg. 28, Bubi: "We are here, safe and sound, and Shabbes is not even over yet."

The signifigance is how Elli and her family keep their culture in America. Elli and her brother, Bubi, had to walk around the city because their religion didn't allow them to drive and do alot of other things on their Sabbath. Just like how Elli had to ask the captain of their ship for them to board early because they couldn't board a ship on their Sabbath. Her family isn't going to stop practicing their religion in America, they're going to remember their old culture and keep doing it.

Character judgement, Elli: Elli seems very hardworking and cares alot about her family. It showed when she went to go talk to the captain of the ship by herself so that her and her mother could board early. I thought this was very brave and caring of her to do.

Question: What is Shabbes?

Museum Reflection

Haven to Home

The purpose of this exhibit was showing the life of Jews and how they came to America to start a new life. They came here to escape the discrimination and poverty they faced in Europe. Most of them settled in New York's lower East Side and Boston's North End. Over time they all spread out because of different jobs and what lifestyle they wanted to have. Some went to the country while others stayed in the city. In the 1820's the Synagogues is America started adpating. This was because new people were coming over from europe, a younger generation was changing the old ways.

As they came over to America, the problems in Europe got worse. Adolf Hitler had begun the Holocaust, and the Jews in America wanted to help the Jews that were being slaughtered in Europe. In 1924 America had set an immigration limit, and during the time of the Holocaust only around 100,000 Jews escaped Europe to come to America. I thought this was really sad but I know that America couldn't house every Jew in the world.

I learned some interesting things from the exhibit and from all the pictures. I learned that when the Jews first came Congress didn't want them to participate in law. To stop this they made it so that they had to swear on the Bible, so Jews couldn't participate because they worship the Torah. Eventually the Jewish people were accepted. They were encouraged to learn English, apply for citizenships, and participate in elections.

Some Jews didn't let go of their pasts and they continued to celebrate all the holidays. They often lived in communities and celebrating brought them all together. They celebrated their new life in America. I saw a picture of a Menorah that had the Staue of Liberty for each of the candle holders. I thought this showed how much the Jews appreciated America and the life they had. Women became more active and the Jewish women participated alot in the civil rights movement.

Even though Jews had settled in America some people were still against them. Henry Ford was thought to be a part of the KKK. There was a picture of him on one of the walls with a KKK member's arm around Ford's shoulder. People were still against Jews, but I think more people didn't have a problem with them than people who were against.



Children of Immigrants

The photo I picked is titled "The Furio's Family Restauraunt." The picture shows four people standing in front of a restauraunt. There is an older couple with their arms around eachother. On either side there are two men half turned to the couple. The woman is wearing a dress and the man standing with her is wearing a plain shirt. Both men on either side are wearing white undershirts and denim pants or shorts. Behind them is a sign that says "Furio's Family Restauraunt, PIZZA." Then it has a number to call. The photograph is dated 1998.

I chose it because my favorite food is pizza, and all the Italian immigrants that immigrated to America have effected my life. They brought part of their culture here to share and I'm happy they did. I like how it has the family together because it shows that they are all trying to have a better life and they are all working together.

My quote that I chose is this: "The greatest thing I hoped for in my life is to become a succesful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but also who I am inside." -Samira Durakovic, Yugoslavia. I chose it because alot of people say they don't want to be judged by the color of their skin, but Durakovic also says what she wants to happen instead. She says that she wants friends and family to support her and for people to see whats underneath her skin. This seems to be what alot of non-white people have to say and I think that if they're all saying it then it must be important.

Immigration Reflection

An immigrant is someone who goes to another country from an entirely different one. An immigrant would come to another country because there life in their old one wasn't good. Usually because they and/or their family live in poverty and they weren't happy with their life. Sometimes only one member of the family will go to work and live in another country and send money back to family members. Another reason would be that their old country didn't treat its people well. Countries with communism or slavery would make people want to come to the U.S where it's better.
Our country is a lot better than other countries. Our country gives us freedom. People would come here to have the freedom of religion to practice their beliefs and to speak their mind. Our country offers more opportunities for money and job than most of the other countries.
The U.S has been affected in a lot of ways. There are so many people here from other countries who have come to visit or live here. There are a lot of different languages all around the U.S, especially ner the border of Mexico and Cailifornia.
We have a lot of variety food here too. chinese, mexican, italian and many others. My life has been changed because my grandparents are immigrants, if they hadn't come over from Bolivia my life would have been a very different story, I might not even have been born.

Book Review: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Book Review

The Great Gatsby is a tragic story about life in the 1920's in New York's Long Island.. The main character, Nick moves to a new place and eventually meets his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. This book is filled with love affairs, death, and parties all at the same time. Once you get past the slow beginning, the book makes you want to turn the pages and find out what happens next in the attention grabbing book by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The book opens on Nick, the narrator of the story. He is a quiet person and sees the world as it is. He does his own thing and doesn't like how Americas seems to be one big party all the time. He likes honesty and hard work, but enjoys the good things in life also. Like Gatsby, he also finds a love interest and as the story goes on it's interesting to see how their love grows and ends. When he meets Gatsby, his life is filled with more adventure and it makes the story interesting.

The entire book is Nick's memory of Gatsby and the troubles he went through.
Gatsby is the exciting character in the book. He has a taste for luxury and wealth. He gives parties that everyone comes to, even if they're not invited. He's popular but doesn't have any close friends. The only person Gatsby is close to is Nick. Nick once said to Gatsby, (talking about Daisy and Tom) “They're a rotten lot, you're better than all of them put together.” Even though Nick is close to Gatsby, he doesn't no everything about him. Gatsby has a mysterious past that no one seems to know about. One person says, “He killed a man,” another says, “He went to Oxford and he's respectable.” Either way you look at it, Gatsby has secrets that left me wondering what he was hiding.

Gatsby's love interest comes in the form of the wealthy and married Daisy Buchanan. Daisy had loved Gatsby before he went off to War World I many years ago. When Gatsby was accidentally sent somewhere else instead of returning home to Daisy, Daisy gave up after waiting for so long and married Tom. When Gatsby suddenly comes back in Daisy's life, she gets really confused about who she should love. His love for Daisy creates a dramatic tragedy that surprised me a lot. Daisy's conflict between choosing Gatsby or her husband who's cheating on her is very interesting to read about. However interesting she is, I don't like Daisy because in the end of the book she is really cruel and doesn't deserve to have someone love her.

The writing style of this book is kind of hard to read and there's a lot of symbolism in it. The story line is very good and there's many twists and turns that surprised me. I would recommend reading it because of how much I enjoyed it. I would also suggest reading it slowly so that you can catch all the details and get the most from the book.

Overall I liked this book a lot. There was so many twists and would definitely recommend it if you like surprises and tragic endings. This book was one of my favorites out of the books I've read in literature circles at High Tech Middle. The Great Gatsby leaves you wanting more from Nick and Gatsby's world and wondering if your own life would ever be as interesting or sad as their lives are.