Pg. 121
“Throughout his job ordeal, my father never complained. He remained an Iranian who loved his native country but who also believed in American ideals. He only said how sad it was that people easily hate an entire population simply because of the actions of a few. And what a waste it is to hate, he always said. What a waste.”
It’s surprising how fast hate can spread through the media. Whether it’s through propaganda, bias, or just throwing the truth out there, it will spread. It brings me to Children of the River and how the people of America only see some part of the terrors in Cambodia but not the whole picture. Most people were just watching the news to get the information and feel sorrow for people but other took action. Also what happened during the Iranian Revolution. It showed a few Iranians doing bad but not the whole population itself. All that hatred bottles up and turns into something extreme like turning the hate to an entire population. What a waste.
Pg. 117-118
“Perhaps the greatest irony in the wave of Iranian-hating was that Iranians, as a group, are among the most educated and successful immigrants in this country. Our work ethic and obsession with education make us almost ideal citizens. Nobody asked our opinion of whether the hostages should be taken, and yet every single Iranian in America was paying the price. One kid throws a spitball and the whole class gets detention.”
This regular system of punishing everyone when a few are at fault is used everyday. No questions asked. Firoozeh and her family had it harsh. They were living well in America until the Iranian Revolution came. They had no part in it but they were paying the price for the few who did crimes to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Some of the world’s ordinary customs can become extreme and turn a whole population down.
Monday, March 8, 2010
It’s All Relatives
Pg. 96
“Not surprisingly, my native language, Persian, contains many more precise words for relatives then does the English language.”
Sundara’s family also has a precise way of addressing everyone. Sundara calls Soka Younger Aunt. Soka calls Naro Husband, rather than by his name. She also calls Sundara Niece. Naro sometimes calls Soka Little Sister, even though they aren’t biological siblings. Moni, who is a friend of Sundara, calls Sundara Little Sister, sometimes. But I think the younger you are like Ravy and Pon’s age, than they just get called my their first names. Vietnamese is also like this. You don’t just say grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle, there are specific words for those kinds of things.
Pg. 102
“Like all Iranians, we consider academics to be of the utmost importance. Almost every child in my extended family has attended college, a record that brings tears of pride and joy to the eyes of the older generation, a record that we hope to continue.”
In Cambodia the most important goals are to get a good job, marry the Khmer way (an arranged marriage), cook and care for your family, and take care of your parents when they grow old. Education isn’t nearly as important but it is important because you need a good education to get a good occupation. Sundara has those same goals but she also needs the straight A’s to become a doctor and help others.
“Not surprisingly, my native language, Persian, contains many more precise words for relatives then does the English language.”
Sundara’s family also has a precise way of addressing everyone. Sundara calls Soka Younger Aunt. Soka calls Naro Husband, rather than by his name. She also calls Sundara Niece. Naro sometimes calls Soka Little Sister, even though they aren’t biological siblings. Moni, who is a friend of Sundara, calls Sundara Little Sister, sometimes. But I think the younger you are like Ravy and Pon’s age, than they just get called my their first names. Vietnamese is also like this. You don’t just say grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle, there are specific words for those kinds of things.
Pg. 102
“Like all Iranians, we consider academics to be of the utmost importance. Almost every child in my extended family has attended college, a record that brings tears of pride and joy to the eyes of the older generation, a record that we hope to continue.”
In Cambodia the most important goals are to get a good job, marry the Khmer way (an arranged marriage), cook and care for your family, and take care of your parents when they grow old. Education isn’t nearly as important but it is important because you need a good education to get a good occupation. Sundara has those same goals but she also needs the straight A’s to become a doctor and help others.
The Ham Amendment
Pg. 87
“He continued, “It’s not what we eat or don’t eat that makes us good people; it’s how we treat one another. As you grow older, you’ll find that people of every religion think they’re the best, but that’s not true. There are good and bad people in every religion. Just because someone is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian doesn’t mean a thing. You have to look and see what’s in their hearts. That’s the only thing that matters, and that’s the only detail God cares about.”
This little speech from Kazem surprised me a little. I didn’t expect this deep piece of wisdom My first impression of him was a cheap, and thinking he knows it all kind of guy. But then throughout Funny in Farsi as I got to know his character a bit more, he had good intentions and a good heart. But this speech was really profound and intellectual. It also goes back to the beginning of the school year when Mr. Kahill was talking about ethnocentrism, thinking their own culture is best. It’s best to look at people for who they are rather than what they are. And being good or bad relies on the actions one takes.
Pg. 85
“Catering to the European expatriates, some stores in Abadan carried foreign foods, exotic products such as Ovaltine, Kit Kat candy bars, and ham. Even with the British gone, their canned and boxed foods remained in the stores, serving as a reminder of the exotic world that existed outside our borders.”
Reading this made me think of a connection back when I was over at Vietnam for one summer. I had cousins, around the same age as me, to hang out with and one time we went out to the city to look around in shops. There was this one market that had snacks made in America and they wanted to try some but didn’t know what to choose. So I picked out Oreos for them and they loved it. In my mind I was thinking, Wow they’re making a big deal out of Oreos. The little basic snacks and foods over here can be delicacies somewhere else.
“He continued, “It’s not what we eat or don’t eat that makes us good people; it’s how we treat one another. As you grow older, you’ll find that people of every religion think they’re the best, but that’s not true. There are good and bad people in every religion. Just because someone is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian doesn’t mean a thing. You have to look and see what’s in their hearts. That’s the only thing that matters, and that’s the only detail God cares about.”
This little speech from Kazem surprised me a little. I didn’t expect this deep piece of wisdom My first impression of him was a cheap, and thinking he knows it all kind of guy. But then throughout Funny in Farsi as I got to know his character a bit more, he had good intentions and a good heart. But this speech was really profound and intellectual. It also goes back to the beginning of the school year when Mr. Kahill was talking about ethnocentrism, thinking their own culture is best. It’s best to look at people for who they are rather than what they are. And being good or bad relies on the actions one takes.
Pg. 85
“Catering to the European expatriates, some stores in Abadan carried foreign foods, exotic products such as Ovaltine, Kit Kat candy bars, and ham. Even with the British gone, their canned and boxed foods remained in the stores, serving as a reminder of the exotic world that existed outside our borders.”
Reading this made me think of a connection back when I was over at Vietnam for one summer. I had cousins, around the same age as me, to hang out with and one time we went out to the city to look around in shops. There was this one market that had snacks made in America and they wanted to try some but didn’t know what to choose. So I picked out Oreos for them and they loved it. In my mind I was thinking, Wow they’re making a big deal out of Oreos. The little basic snacks and foods over here can be delicacies somewhere else.
America, Land of the Free
Pg. 76
“Price Club has samples, rows and rows of endless samples. Itching to try the latest frozen chicken burrito or those mini hot dogs that come in mini buns? How about some instant soup, ice-cream sandwiches, spaghetti sauce, pork buns? It’s all there and it’s all free. The mind-boggling generosity even extends to second and third helpings. I have witnessed people hanging around the Mrs. Fields sample table for longer than it takes to actually chew one and walk away.”
Who doesn’t like free food? My dad, sister and I always go to Sam’s Club to eat some of their samples when shopping. If you’re given something for free, why not take it? Once at Sam’s Club, they brought out these cookies that I really liked but I was too slow in arrival because by the time I got there, a huge crowd of people took all the samples! I never see why they brought out examples because everyone knows that people just want free food and they never exactly buy the real product.
Pg. 75
“I believe peace in the Middle East could be achieved if the various leaders held their discussions in front of a giant bowl of Persian ice cream, each leader with his own silver spoon. Political differences would melt with every mouthful.”
If only everything could be resolved that easily. I don’t know much about politics but I do know that our political system doesn’t work all too simply. If only people could look into the similarities that everyone has rather than the differences, there wouldn’t be as much hate being thrown into the air. Even if the similarity is as simple as loving Persian ice-cream.
“Price Club has samples, rows and rows of endless samples. Itching to try the latest frozen chicken burrito or those mini hot dogs that come in mini buns? How about some instant soup, ice-cream sandwiches, spaghetti sauce, pork buns? It’s all there and it’s all free. The mind-boggling generosity even extends to second and third helpings. I have witnessed people hanging around the Mrs. Fields sample table for longer than it takes to actually chew one and walk away.”
Who doesn’t like free food? My dad, sister and I always go to Sam’s Club to eat some of their samples when shopping. If you’re given something for free, why not take it? Once at Sam’s Club, they brought out these cookies that I really liked but I was too slow in arrival because by the time I got there, a huge crowd of people took all the samples! I never see why they brought out examples because everyone knows that people just want free food and they never exactly buy the real product.
Pg. 75
“I believe peace in the Middle East could be achieved if the various leaders held their discussions in front of a giant bowl of Persian ice cream, each leader with his own silver spoon. Political differences would melt with every mouthful.”
If only everything could be resolved that easily. I don’t know much about politics but I do know that our political system doesn’t work all too simply. If only people could look into the similarities that everyone has rather than the differences, there wouldn’t be as much hate being thrown into the air. Even if the similarity is as simple as loving Persian ice-cream.
The “F” Word
Pg. 67
“Despite a few exceptions, I have found that Americans are now far more willing to learn new names, just as they’re far more willing to try new ethnic foods.”
I think Americans are now far more accepting compare to back when Firoozeh was a kid. Cause now foreign names are something everyone wants to know how to pronounce. Like my name, Thuy, everyone tries to pronounce it but usually end up failing and asking how to pronounce it. Also I get a lot of positive comments on my name like the uniqueness of it and such. So back to my point, Americans gained more open minds to foreign culture.
Pg. 65
“Even though I had graduated with honors from UC Berkley, I couldn’t get a single interview. I was guilty of being a humanities major, but I began to suspect that there was more to my problems. After three months of rejections, I added “Julie” to my resume. Call it coincidence, but the job offers started coming in. Perhaps it’s the same kind of coincidence that keeps African Americans from getting cabs in New York.”
It still wonders me on why people judge others based on what they are, or rely on their prejudice thoughts rather judging them based on their actions. Like in this example, when Firoozeh applies for jobs, they people probably look at her name and assume some things and reject her. Even though she graduated with honors. But with one simple change, by adding Julie, it was all good. Too bad that this discrimination and hate closes opportunities to innocent people. What a waste to hate.
“Despite a few exceptions, I have found that Americans are now far more willing to learn new names, just as they’re far more willing to try new ethnic foods.”
I think Americans are now far more accepting compare to back when Firoozeh was a kid. Cause now foreign names are something everyone wants to know how to pronounce. Like my name, Thuy, everyone tries to pronounce it but usually end up failing and asking how to pronounce it. Also I get a lot of positive comments on my name like the uniqueness of it and such. So back to my point, Americans gained more open minds to foreign culture.
Pg. 65
“Even though I had graduated with honors from UC Berkley, I couldn’t get a single interview. I was guilty of being a humanities major, but I began to suspect that there was more to my problems. After three months of rejections, I added “Julie” to my resume. Call it coincidence, but the job offers started coming in. Perhaps it’s the same kind of coincidence that keeps African Americans from getting cabs in New York.”
It still wonders me on why people judge others based on what they are, or rely on their prejudice thoughts rather judging them based on their actions. Like in this example, when Firoozeh applies for jobs, they people probably look at her name and assume some things and reject her. Even though she graduated with honors. But with one simple change, by adding Julie, it was all good. Too bad that this discrimination and hate closes opportunities to innocent people. What a waste to hate.
With a Little Help from My Friends
Pg. 31
“Or we’d try to be more bucolic, mentioning being south of the beautiful Caspian Sea, “where the famous caviar comes from.” Most people in Whittier did not know about the famous caviar and once we explained what it was, they’d scrunch up their faces. “Fish eggs?” they would say. “Gross.”
Never judge a book by its cover. I’ve seen that expression way too many times but it is never exactly used most of the time. When reading this, it makes me think of the Travel channel’s Bizarre Foods hosted by Andrew Zimmern. If it looks good, eat it. My dad would always say, when watching the show, That’s how you should live life. Also reading this made me think of all the times at home, when I didn’t even know what I was eating half the time. I would always ask what the food was, but my parents every time would say, Just try it. I would try it and say that it was pretty good. Then they would say what it was and I would cough it up every time out of shock. Even I judge a book by its cover, despite the fact I’ve eaten many foods people would probably make fun of me for eating.
Pg. 34
“Older boys often asked me to teach them “some bad words in your language.” At first, I politely refused. My refusal merely increased their determination, so I solved the problem by teaching them phrases like man kharam, which means “I’m an idiot.”
I found this very amusing considering it’s happened to me quite frequently before. It’s like the mere fact that you can speak another language triggers people to become star struck and repeatedly annoy you to death with questions. I also never understood why all people want to know in any language is all the curse words, just so they can insult people without them knowing.
“Or we’d try to be more bucolic, mentioning being south of the beautiful Caspian Sea, “where the famous caviar comes from.” Most people in Whittier did not know about the famous caviar and once we explained what it was, they’d scrunch up their faces. “Fish eggs?” they would say. “Gross.”
Never judge a book by its cover. I’ve seen that expression way too many times but it is never exactly used most of the time. When reading this, it makes me think of the Travel channel’s Bizarre Foods hosted by Andrew Zimmern. If it looks good, eat it. My dad would always say, when watching the show, That’s how you should live life. Also reading this made me think of all the times at home, when I didn’t even know what I was eating half the time. I would always ask what the food was, but my parents every time would say, Just try it. I would try it and say that it was pretty good. Then they would say what it was and I would cough it up every time out of shock. Even I judge a book by its cover, despite the fact I’ve eaten many foods people would probably make fun of me for eating.
Pg. 34
“Older boys often asked me to teach them “some bad words in your language.” At first, I politely refused. My refusal merely increased their determination, so I solved the problem by teaching them phrases like man kharam, which means “I’m an idiot.”
I found this very amusing considering it’s happened to me quite frequently before. It’s like the mere fact that you can speak another language triggers people to become star struck and repeatedly annoy you to death with questions. I also never understood why all people want to know in any language is all the curse words, just so they can insult people without them knowing.
Swoosh-Swoosh
Pg. 24
“Marriage, in my culture, has nothing to do with romance. It’s a matter of logic. If Mr. and Mrs. Ahmadi like Mr. and Mrs. Nejati, then their children should get marriage. On the other hand, if the parents don’t like each other, but the children do, well, this is where sad poetry comes from. As odd as these logical unions may appear to the Western world, their success rate is probably no worse than that of marriages based on eyes meeting across a crowded room and the heart going va-va-va-boom.”
In Cambodia, based on Children of the River, it’s also based on logic. The parents want to arrange their child with someone who would prove to be a good wife or husband. Also Soka also thinks that marriages in America fail very easily because of all the divorces that happens. Americans may see arranged marriages as odd but their success rate probably isn’t any better. As with Naro and Soka, they are living perfectly happy with each other and trusted their parents arrangement.
Pg. 25
“Since Iranian flavors are quite different from the flavors found in American convenience foods, most of the purchases ended up in the trash can.”
This is the opposite for Ravy. He craves American food. As it said in the novel, he loves burgers and fries and ate them every chance they got. But for the grandma, she has the same opinion as this quote but except for one thing. She never gave the food here a chance and just insist on eating Cambodian foods. She calls Big Macs pig slop after one sniff at it. Another thing about this quote is that American’s flavors are different so a lot of foreign purchases would probably end up in the trash, vice versa to this quote.
“Marriage, in my culture, has nothing to do with romance. It’s a matter of logic. If Mr. and Mrs. Ahmadi like Mr. and Mrs. Nejati, then their children should get marriage. On the other hand, if the parents don’t like each other, but the children do, well, this is where sad poetry comes from. As odd as these logical unions may appear to the Western world, their success rate is probably no worse than that of marriages based on eyes meeting across a crowded room and the heart going va-va-va-boom.”
In Cambodia, based on Children of the River, it’s also based on logic. The parents want to arrange their child with someone who would prove to be a good wife or husband. Also Soka also thinks that marriages in America fail very easily because of all the divorces that happens. Americans may see arranged marriages as odd but their success rate probably isn’t any better. As with Naro and Soka, they are living perfectly happy with each other and trusted their parents arrangement.
Pg. 25
“Since Iranian flavors are quite different from the flavors found in American convenience foods, most of the purchases ended up in the trash can.”
This is the opposite for Ravy. He craves American food. As it said in the novel, he loves burgers and fries and ate them every chance they got. But for the grandma, she has the same opinion as this quote but except for one thing. She never gave the food here a chance and just insist on eating Cambodian foods. She calls Big Macs pig slop after one sniff at it. Another thing about this quote is that American’s flavors are different so a lot of foreign purchases would probably end up in the trash, vice versa to this quote.
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