PLAN OF ACTION

I was not expecting to come away from this class learning so much about social issues, culture, family and even boarders. I did not think it would go this in depth, but I am glad it did. It gave a new perspective on the world. This was by far the best class I took this quarter because it opened my eyes to new issues I did not even know were present. The books were excellent in grabbing my attention and teaching about issues around the world in the eyes of a child. It was gripping. Although, sad and violent at times. The books that caught my attention most were Sold and A Long Way Gone. These two books were very detailed and brought out the realities of the situations these children were in. While reading these books, the one idea I could not get over was how young these children were. I couldn’t believe that they had to go through these horrible instances because of war and family reasons. It did not settle with me well. When I was around age twelve I was not worried about supporting my family or worried about being kid napped and taken by the rough military. These are issues that children should not be in the middle of or worrying about, and it was shocking that this was just another part of life for them. It really hit me when our guest speaker, Sean, came in because he explained what the children were going through in these war zones in different countries. He stated it best when he explained that we do not realize what is really going on around the world until it is right in front of you. Sure we hear some of the situations on the news but they aren’t giving the whole story. It is a reality shock when someone is put in another country and in a war zone. It is stories like these that allow us to realize the true issues of today’s society. And this is what I appreciated about these books the most; it gave a realistic example of the true actuality of what is being faced in the world.

The books and the speakers, especially, helped me realize I need to learn to understand the issues that are being faced around the world. It struck me that my problems aren’t so big, and that people and children younger than me are going through more than I will ever imagine in my lifetime. This is something that needed to be learned and accepted. Knowing that I can help out in some way makes it that much stronger of a lesson. Reading these books reaffirmed my passion for wanting to work with kids in my future. And for my Plan of Action, I will be volunteering for the Make-A-Wish Foundation starting this summer. I want to be able to make a positive difference in these children’s lives. They should not have to go through these tragic changes in their lives at such a young. I believe this opportunity will allow me to understand where they are coming from and how helpful this work means to them. I am so happy I got the chance to pick up these books and listen to these speakers because without them I would still be naïve about global issues around the world, and it reaffirmed my passion for what I want to pursue in life. 

Graffiti Wall

While doing this project I thought a lot about our guest speaker, Sean’s story. He had some great insight on war and peace that drew my attention in. He explained how much of it was a battle for him personally. A great culture shock no one really goes through until being in that type of situation. He was very adamant about wanting to help others after being in these torture zones and I thought this was enlightening. He didn’t want to go to war any longer and instead realized how much more of a world is out there that he had never known. He wanted to help and make a difference. After hearing his passionate story it brought my ideas for this project. First, I chose a picture of a soldier that turns into a little boy playing. This caught my attention immediately because of the reality it captures. It reminds me of some of the books we have previously read, especially, A Long Way Gone. It truly shows that young boys turn out to be tough military men and lose a sense of their innocence, as Ishmael does. Even as Sean said, he would never put his son into that environment, there is too much to handle and go through at such a young age.

The next picture I chose was of a family. And more specifically a military family. War can affect the family in so many ways and can be a true barrier between relationships, as it did for Ling in Revolution is Not a Dinner Party. Families somehow always get affected in detrimental ways by war and Sean added two important points. To start, he missed two years of his son’s life, and then while he was away at war, a little boy came to help them with their search because the boy said it was ruining his family. With all of these young kids running around in a danger zone, Sean realized how much he missed his family and how blessed they were as a family to be living and experiencing life the way they were. He knew at this point that he needed to be home.

I then added bravery, honor, respect, and certainly peace to this because each one of these words represents so many situations with war, family, and even culture. We all may have a different culture but as it has been discussed so clearly through out this course, we should appreciate and get to know these differences. Not let it separate us. Peace intertwines with this as well because we will always want peace presented to us. But we cannot find this peace until we find it in ourselves. It is not just about fighting in the war; it is about creating the peace we want to see. Even though this peace can be broken by war. One of the quotes I found really demonstrated peace and war, “The real and lasting victories are those of peace, and not of war” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). A very bold but truthful statement. While soldiers and characters from each one of these books represent the bravery they put forth for their families, the honor and respect they deserve when at times they don’t, is a time we have to acknowledge and realize the important things that are going on around the world today that we do not think about. It is about making the difference we want to see in the world.

A Long Way Gone

A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah himself, was such a horrible circumstance that I could not believe that some of these instances and details were true. It was sad to see such young children go through these horrific events. What was most surprising was that Ishmael was only 12 years old when this occurred. It was hard to hear how bad he was brainwashed by his “family” during this time as well. His life was normal just as any 12-year-old boy’s would be and to have it taken away from him in an instant seemed so surreal. He had turned into something he never thought possible.

This army he is lured into becomes his family and this is exactly how he turned into just another vicious killer. The little things they did in this story really grasped the audience’s attention. From violence to drugs it seemed as if it were too extreme to be true. In order for them to fight or keep going, no matter the circumstance, drugs were always involved. Whether it was cocaine, marijuana or any other drug use. And this is what led these boys down the wrong path. However, thanks to UNICEF the boy soldiers did in fact get the help they needed and got put into a rehabilitation center in order to get better. Through the love and compassion here at the center he learns to accept the fact that the war was not his fault. He now reaches out to others in order to educate the world about the war and the affects it has on children.

I was happy to read the end of the story especially because it put a new light onto this tragic story. I was happy to read that Ishmael started to open up to Esther and even his Uncle Tommy as well. His Uncle Tommy would be there with him during his rehabilitation and would walk with him and tell him stories about his own childhood. Ishmael started to become the boy he once was before the war and his Uncle Tommy welcomed him into his own home thrilled to have Ishmael back on his feet again. This was a relief as well because most boys in the center would be denied by their immediate families and were seen going back with their army “families”.  This was sad to hear because we know that they would be in a much better spot, as Ishmael was.

I loved reading this story because it was definitely an awakening to understand what happened in this civil war. Especially hearing it from a boy who actually experienced it made the story that more real and personal. It was so nice to hear that he was able to get comfortable in the United States with a home and family that adored him for who he was, even after these sad events. 

Sierra Leone Civil War Research.

The Sierra Leone civil war was actually very interesting to read about because I have not researched this before. This civil war began on March 23, 1991. It started when the Revolutionary United Front, with the help of the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia, intervened in the Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government. This civil war had lasted eleven years and ended up leaving over 50,000 dead.

In March 1996, the Sierra Leone installed an elected civilian government and the retreating Revolutionary United Front signed the Abidjan Peace Accord. With this the new government declared the war over. It was shocking to hear after this announcement a wave of looting, rape, and murder followed. This was a reflection on the international dismay at the overturning of the civilian government. Then in 1999, world leaders had intervened diplomatically to promote negotiations between the Revolutionary United Front and the government. Later that year another peace treaty was signed and implemented. They had came to the conclusion that Lome would give the commander of the Revolutionary United Front the vice presidency and control of the Sierra Leone’s diamond mines in return for the ending of the fighting and the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force to monitor the disarmament process. Of January 2002 the President declared the Sierra Leone Civil War over.

While reading this, I thought it was interesting that diamonds are such an important attribute to this area. I decided to look more into this to see what exactly I could find about the diamonds and the good it brings. So what I discovered is that in the Eastern and Southern districts in Sierra Leone they are rich in alluvial diamonds, and more importantly are easily accessible! All someone needs is a shovel, sieve, and transport. I thought this was fascinating because we do not see this in the United States, so I was surprised to read about this. The phenomenon whereby countries with an abundance of natural resources tend to nonetheless be characterized by lower levels of economic development is known as the “resource curse”. By the late 1980’s almost all of Sierra Leone’s diamonds were being smuggled and traded illegally, with revenues going directly into the hands of the private investor.

Reading further it was explained that diamonds weren’t the only significant factor in the civil war. Gold mining and even cash crop through forced labor was well known. Looting was also seen with currency, household items, food, livestock, cars, and international aid shipments. Joining this rebel cause for Sierra Leoneans was an opportunity to seize property. But something I read that seemed important to note, is that the reason why the civil war should not be held over the account of the economic benefits from the alluvial diamond mines is because before the actual civil war there was years of poor governance, poverty, corruption and oppression which had created the circumstances for the rise of this civil war to take place.

Group Book Talk-Where The Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are is a classic children’s book that has several deep and promising messages. Even now with the movie out, it relates more and more to the fear and sadness of children, while also connecting to anger and aggression. In this movie, the family situation is represented in a more detailed fashioned. Max lives with his struggling single mother and his sister. He is a good kid, but feelings of loneliness and the difficulty of his family situation lead him to act out at times, taking his frustration out on both his family and their property. In the beginning, he gets sent to his room but in this moment he realizes he is afraid of the loneliness, having no food or company in this dark moment. The fears of childhood come out as anger. Allowing him then to go to his imagination. It leads him to find a boat and a body of water, and he sails away to Where the Wild Things Are. In this particular place it represents what fear is and how to overcome this fear.  He faces these fears, with The Wild Things, and becomes the king of this magical place.

Max finds that he has some things in common with the Wild Things. They are childlike and sensitive, and they also take out their anger and fear in ways that are destructive or unproductive. The Wild Things live together as a family, and just like any other family, their different personalities sometimes clash, but in the end, they all love each other. He learns the true value of family while being with the wild things, seeing the connection each of the wild things have with one another makes him realize he can be more appreciative of the good things he has at home with his mother and sister. And even when coming back to his home at the end of the book, he comes back to a hot supper. This powerful ending to this story touches on the main point that his family will always be there for him. This story helps children come to terms with shadow elements of life and the tricky emotions of fear, anger, envy, and anxiety. It is about experiencing and figuring out how to get through our fears.

Many issues could potentially occur using this book, especially in the movie, which is a deeper depiction of the story. There have been many mixed emotions about this book because there are many layers that need to be peeled away to completely understand the underlying message. Some parents see it as too dark or deep for children. Some may see that it is about children and not necessarily for children. It is supposed to open our minds to our fears and struggles in life and to face these fears. Even to find our own kingdom to rule like Max. Knowing that some parents might have a hard time with their child reading this book because of its darkness, it is hard to say whom this book would be appropriate for. However, I believe this story to be great for all ages because it gives a great representation about how to face your fears and the values of family all in one story. Therefore, I believe everyone could relate to this type of story. I also believe it teaches children to use their imagination and creativity while also teaching a strong lesson. It is a very powerful book or movie, whichever one prefers. I would use this text to teach children that everyone has fear and it is okay to have, and once this is accepted it is possible to overcome this fear. 

Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party

Ying Chang Compestine’s, Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party, was very surreal and emotional. This story particularly stuck out to me because a 9-year-old little girl was telling it. This is what made it such an emotional read. Hearing it from her perspective gave a drastic approach to how the revolution actually was during this time. When doing the research before hand I was shocked that I had not heard about this particular revolution. Being able to read a realistic story about it explained a lot about what exactly was going on in the towns. I personally felt this to be just as bad as the Nazi Germany case. It was extremely sad to hear that families, even children, were getting sent to these work camps when they were out of line. The way it was described as them “disappearing” made it even more sad and real.  I couldn’t fathom how people work through and live through these revolutions. It is such a shocking time and I personally could not imagine dealing with these situations in our modern society today. I appreciated the read because it was factual and definitely explained the hardships for the people in this society.

The ideas that were mentioned more than once through out this book are what really caught my attention. For instance, when they kept making families or individuals “disappear”. I thought this to be hugely unfair and they did not give anyone who was out of order any time to fix their mistakes. When Mrs. Wong’s husband had disappeared this seemed to be the breaking point of what this revolution was entailing. It was interesting to hear the father talk about how the workers back at the hospital would go missing every now and then as well. I just could not believe that there was nothing to be done about these situations and everyone tried their best to move on and accept what was happening out of their control. Also, there was so much detail of what happened on their day-to-day lives that it really allowed the audience to open up to the idea of what it was like to live during this horrible time. I believe this drew in my attention because every little situation that happened to either of the families, that we got to know through the book, really helped to grasp and feel for each individual.

Overall, I believe this is a great read and it is something that needs to be taught more often or even just recognized because I am still in shock that I had yet to learn about this revolution. I feel this would be a great read for younger kids because it gives the sense of what has happened in the past that we do not necessarily hear about in our daily lives. I also believe it will make many understand how lucky and privileged they really are. We take so much for granted sometimes that we do not recognize or give thanks to all that we have. This is a book that will make someone realize this and begin to appreciate the finer things in life. 

Chinese Cultural Revolution

I was pretty surprised I have not heard more about the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It was so interesting to read about, while even taking a revolutions course last quarter, it shocked me that I had yet to learn about it. The Chinese Cultural Revolution was a social/political movement that began in May 1966. It was set into motion by Mao Zedong, which was the chairman of the Communist Party of China. It was interesting to note that the goal was to enforce communism in the country by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from the Chinese society. Mao thought it was taking China in the wrong direction. I thought this was an extremely bold approach and it is appalling to hear that it had lasted until 1969, except it was active until the death of military leader Lin Biao in 1971.

Hearing how the youth responded also caught my attention. They responded to Mao by forming groups known as the Red Guard around the country. The movement had spread, it is explained, into the military, urban workers, and the Communist Party leadership. It resulted in widespread struggles in all walks of life. With these different groups of the Red Guard battling for dominance, many Chinese cities reached the brink of anarchy by September 1967. With these battles and movements going on it was quite engaging to read that their economy plummeted because of this. I actually wanted to note I found that the industrial production for 1968 dropped 12 percent below that of 1966. And it is also stated that 1.5 million people were killed during this revolution and millions suffered in imprisonment, seizure of property, torture or general humiliation. So it is easy to see that this revolution caused a lot of problems for China whether it was people trying to fight back or if it was the economy. Many situations were happening around this time that their society seemed to be failing. I then went on to learn that the revolution’s short-term effects were definitely felt within China’s cities, but the long term effects were even more crucial. Mao’s attempt did not end up doing what he wanted and it led China to not have faith in their government any longer. I thought this was a sad ordeal because people of a big country should have faith in their government and what is going to come next for their country. However, this was not the case.

In the few articles I read about the revolution I did not see much explaining the groups of the Red Guard. I wanted to learn more about their actions and attempt in the revolution and against Mao. I want to keep researching and reading up on this revolution. I was very astounded that this was the first time actually researching about this topic but I found it incredibly interesting and I am glad I got to do the research. I still have some questions but it was a great revolution to look into. 

United States Immigration Policy

I did not know much about the U.S. immigration policy and that is why I found this assignment and the talk by Greg Cunningham so useful. It helped me to understand a little bit more about this. When looking at the research it helped clarify a few questions I had as well. The information I found first explained a lot. First stating the immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with certain exceptions for close family members. The congress and the President determine a separate number of refugee admissions. Later explaining, the total limit is broken down into limits for each region of the world and after September 11 , 2011 the number of refugees admitted into the United States fell drastically. However, the annual admissions have steadily increased.

What I found important to note when researching and while also hearing Greg Cunningham’s lecture was that family unification is an important principle governing the immigration policy.  The family-based immigration category allows for United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to bring certain family members in the United States. There are about 480,000 family-based visits available each year.

What I also found highly interesting was learning that there are more than 20 types of visas for temporary nonimmigrant workers. There are L visas which are for intercompany transfers, P visas for athletes, entertainers and skilled performers, R visas for religious workers, A visas for diplomatic employees, O visas for workers of extraordinary ability, and a variety of H visas for both highly skilled and lesser skilled employment.  I never realized how many visas there actually were, and how complicated it could get.

Lastly, learning how to gain United States citizenship was surprising to me as well. It is explained that in order to qualify for U.S. citizenship through naturalization an individual must have had a lawful permanent resident status, as known as a green card, for at least five years. Or, it specifies, for three years if he or she obtained the green card through a United States citizen spouse or through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Also, there are other exceptions for members of the United States military who serve in a time of war or declared hostilities. Applicants for United States citizenship must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate continuous residency, demonstrate good moral character, and pass English and U.S. history and civics exams. They are required to pay an application fee plus fulfill many other requirements that are involved.

Learning these facts about the U.S. Immigration Policy really caught my attention because I did not realize how complex and hard of a process it could be. This was a very informational topic that I haven’t looked into before. I enjoyed learning about these different aspects in the policy.

Crossing The Wire

Will Hobbs, Crossing the Wire, was a wonderful portrayal of what crossing borders truly entails. I had come into this story not knowing a lot about the border system or how it worked or what to expect. But through Victor’s struggle in this story it really allowed my perspective on borders to open up. It showed the drastic approach of what it takes to survive in this type of family environment and what involves in crossing the wire.

Ever since his father died, 15-year-old Victor has been the man of the house. He plants and sells corn to support his mother, siblings and even himself. It shows how hard their life is, and how they are scraping by of what they are making. It doesn’t help when the price of corn falls terribly, this then makes Victor come to the realization that he has no choice but to try and get across the border to the United States. This way he will be able to make enough money to support his family and knows it is his responsibility as well. Victor doesn't have the money to hire a coyote to sneak him across and there are miles between him and the American towns where he hopes will be his ticket to work and money. Victor gets on his way in an attempt to cross the wire, find work and send money home. It shows the realistic events of Victor's journey. He faces a lot of danger and hunger but also the freezing cold and the scorching heat of the Arizona desert. It is a drastic attempt to gain work and life in these new areas all for his family back home.

What most interested me in this story was my awareness to how hard it was to actually get across the border. It definitely shows the determination many do for their family’s lives. It is sad but very realistic in a sense. Also, I was extremely shocked when he got deported back but was still determined to get across again. No matter the circumstances he was faced with, whether he knew it at the time or not, he was not going to give up. I find this difficult to imagine that such a young boy had to be put through this situation because of the dangers that can and will happen. It is shown that the male has the biggest responsibility in the family. After Victor’s dad had died he knew that he had to be the strong supporter in the family, and once those prices dropped he knew he had to do something to help. He found this to be his only option. This was a shocking reality but it was a great book to read because I have never read anything like this before. It opened up my eyes, personally, to these events that occur year round and the negativities that are attached. It was a realistic approach to this everyday issue and that is what I appreciated most when reading this book. 

Sold.

I have never read a story quite like this before. I have learned about human trafficking in many of my sociology or criminology courses but I have never heard a story in a young girls perspective. This had really stunned me and I did not know how the brothels had worked from the inside. I could not grasp the concept of how families let their children do this. Families are there for support, love and care but this does not seem to be the case in these types of areas.

I was astounded just by the living conditions in their hometown and how they lived from a day-to-day basis. The father would not work and go gamble during the day while Ama and Lakshmi would do the house hold chores, work in the gardens and the fields, all the while taking care of their animals and the baby. It shocked me that the father had nothing to do with the family at all, so it seemed, and came home empty handed. He did not try for his family and it showed drastically. Especially when he was to win money he came home with new clothes or a motorcycle. This family seemed they were struggling for other materials but he did not seem to care about this. It was clear the women were more concerned and well rounded than the husband/dad.

However, later, it was more shocking to me when Ama and the step dad decided to tell Lakshmi she had to go into the city to be a “maid”, when in fact this was not the case at all. I wondered through out the story if Ama and the step dad knew where she was going and what was going to happen to her. Until I read the Author’s Note in the back of the reading and it does say that nearly 12,000 girls are sold by their families intentionally. I realized how bad human trafficking could be but seeing the statistics is surprising and extremely scary. I could not believe families actually did this with their young girls, especially at the ages twelve or thirteen. Meeting Lakshmi’s friends in the brothel was very interesting too. Monica’s story stuck out to me so well because I could not believe what the family had done. She tires to return home because she has paid off her debt but the family does not want her back and says she is a disgrace to them. I couldn’t believe after all of what Monica, and even the rest of the girls had gone through, that the family would not want her back. She provided them with so much I would think that she should and would be honored.

Also, something else I have previously learned in classes was about the trust issues between American police officers, or those who come help, and the girls in the brothels. I was glad they touched on this because it gives the true perspective of what the girls believe of these men and what they are told about these men. It is a shame they do not know the truth and security behind these police officers. Even Lakshmi was very worried at her first encounter with the white man that came into her room asking a bunch of questions. But she then realized the true purpose behind them once the second man came and showed pictures of what he could give her. I thought this was a powerful message. It is sad to know that these situations happen on a regular basis around the world and there is nothing we can do to stop it. I wish we could give the girls the knowledge to know that police officers are there to help and what is being done to them is not acceptable. 

This story really grasps the reader’s attention and it was fascinating to have actually learned a little bit more about human trafficking. It is awfully sad but it is not all the time you hear a story from a young girls perspective and this is what really made it stand out to me. 

India and Nepal Research

Researching Nepal and India was quite interesting. The first piece of information I looked at was the geography, to get an idea of what each of these areas is like. In Nepal they have eight of the world’s tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, or as they call it in Nepal, Sagarmatha. It contains more than 240 peaks over 20,000 feet above seal level. It is noted that Lumbini is located in this region, which is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, Buddhism. But what was more fascinating was reading that Hinduism was the main religion actually practiced in Nepal, but followed by Buddhism, Kirat, Islam and with just a small majority that practice Christianity. While in India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the 7th largest country and the 2nd most populous country with over 1.2 billion people. In India, there are four world religions, which are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. These religious views had shaped the regions diverse culture. One other idea I had learned was that the foundations of Hindu, philosophy, mythology, and literature were established here and dharma, karma, yoga and moksa are popular and well in existence today. 

Looking at their education stances was a big surprise to me. In Nepal their literacy rates seem low even though they have improved dramatically over the past years. Currently the overall literacy rate has increased from 54.1% in 2001 to 65.9% in 2011. Male literacy rate is 75.1% compared to female literacy rate of 57.4%. While the primary enrollment rate was 74% in 2005 and in 2009, that enrollment rate was at 90%. As one can see, there is a huge step forward in the enrollment rate but the next information I found was more interesting. The secondary education level is extremely low at only a 24% rate of kids going to school from the 9^th to 12^th grade. However in India, 96.5% of all rural children between the ages of 6-14 were enrolled in school. 83% of all rural 15-16 year olds were enrolled in school. It is also stated that with India’s improved education system it is one of the main reasons why there has been a successful rise in the Indian economy.

Human trafficking is the biggest concern today. Nepali victims are trafficked within Nepal to India, the Middle East and many other areas like Malaysia. They are forced to become prostitutes, domestic servants, beggars, factory workers, mineworkers, circus performers, (which I found the most surprising), and many others. Sex trafficking is also another major issue for these areas. From Nepal to India as many as 5,000 to 10,000 women and girls trafficked to India each year. This was astonishing to hear and it is getting worse by the year.

Another source of information I came across is the growing trend of cyber crime. The police had handled 16 cases one year but since then it has gone up very drastically. In 2012 police had dealt with 47 cases, leading to the 78 cases in 2013! 58 out of these 78 reported were related to social networking sites. This is also another problem that needs to be looked more into because it is a growing phenomenon that is getting worse by the year as well.  

Museum Display

GRANDMA & GRANDPA            

My grandma was a big inspiration in my life and because of her I knew that my education and career were highly important. She was a teacher at various schools in my hometown. She was very smart and dedicated to her work, and this is why I knew I had to do well and succeed in my schooling career. My grandpa is another important aspect to my life. He has helped support me financially through out my four years here at Eastern. He has given me more than I have ever expected and without him I really do not know what I would do. Education is of big importance to my family and this is drastically shown through the support of each one of my family members. My grandma and grandpa mean so much to me and for how much they have contributed for my sister, my cousins and I, there would never be a way to repay. They have shaped who I am and it is hard to say if I would have made it through all four years of college without their encouragement and gracious help.

DAD

           

I would like to discuss my dad’s situation because it is so unique. My dad was adopted at birth and does not know his biological mother or father even after trying to find them. This has always been extremely fascinating to me because I do not know half of where I came from. I will never know my heritage or background, which especially demonstrates how it affects my cultural identity. This is something my dad has been struggling with his whole life, but knows that he would never give up his mom and dad for anything. But he has always wanted to know where he comes from and what type of culture he is from including, religion, location and family history. It is interesting to think that my life, especially my dad’s life, would be incredibly different today if he were never adopted. He is such a big supporter of mine and would do anything for my family that it is sad to know he will never be at a peace of mind not knowing where he comes from or who he belongs to.

ALPHA PHI EXECUTIVE OFFICE

When first coming to Eastern I was hesitant about joining a sorority. I never knew I would learn and grow so much in four years than I have with this organization. Being in a sorority has taught me so much that I could not imagine being anywhere else than here for my four years of college. I would have never expected to join the executive office for Alpha Phi because that was something out of my comfort zone when first coming to college. My junior year I decided to join this team and I have to say it was the best decision I could have made while being here. It taught me so much about myself and truly defined the person I am today. This leadership role as Vice President of Membership Recruitment, taught me leadership skills, responsibility and hard work ethic. While I was managing this position for our house I was also focusing on school, including making deans list in the process. It taught me how to stay on top of various tasks and how to overcome the pressures. Without this experience I do not know if I would be as efficient, responsible and outgoing in any leadership project or future career.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

Last year for a school project I worked with the Ronald McDonald House to work with families in need. The families that go here are provided with temporary lodging, comfort and support for families with children who are going through a medical crisis. When my group did this volunteer work, we made dinner for the kids and family and actually got to play with them outside. This was such a great experience because not only did we hear what was going on with each individual child from the parents but even the children opened up to us as well, telling us their story. It was so rewarding to hear them say they appreciated what we were doing and we would never understand how much it helped. And we really didn’t know until we left that night. I am majoring in Sociology and have always wanted to work with kids. I have grown up volunteering with the Special Olympics and other under privileged kids so I knew that this was something I was always going to be interested in. However, this specific project had struck me hard, and it was unbelievably rewarding. After I graduate in June I am looking forward to doing more volunteer work and help children that are in need. This has shaped my outlook on life and helping these types of families is something that is rewarding for me. So I know this area of work is something I will always strive to do.

SARAH (sister)

I only have one older sibling, and her name is Sarah. Since day one she has always been my inspiration and role model. Without her I do not know who I would be because she has shaped so much of life in such a positive way. She is hard working and dedicated, and her passion for life is incredible. Through school and even work I have strived to be half the person she is because of her talent and enthusiasm in everything she puts her mind to. My standpoint on life has changed because of her and this had transformed my focus on who I want to be and what I want to do when I am older. She is a great supporter and friend, which greatly shaped my values and responsibilities through out life.

           

Kampung Boy

Lat’s, Kampung Boy, was a great read. Not only was it a fun way to learn about the growth of a young boy in this type of society but also it truly represented the tradition and culture of Malaysia. I did not know what to expect going into this reading but this graphic novel made the Kampung feel very well known. It grasped my attention and I learned about this culture in such a fun, brilliant way.

When first researching and discussing Malaysia within the class there was a lot of information found on religion. It sounded like a big part in the everyday lives of the Malaysian people and this was in fact proven within the story. It is an essential part to their culture and this can be seen by children going to a Koran reading class at the age of six. The religious teacher had taught the lesson in his own home. This was the first of their educational experience expressing the pressure there is to learn the religious believes at such a young age. The religious practices were also seen when the mother and father would get up and pray before each meal. One other religious idea that is practiced is the “hair-shaving ceremony”. I was pleased they went into detail about this in the story because it was first mentioned in our group discussion in class but I did not know much about it. It is a great way to see the celebration of a child and we can actually see something similar in the American culture. Babies are to get baptized when first born in order to enter into the religion, which is also celebrated with family and friends. Even though the difference is hair being shaven off and celebrating with the community, it brings the same joy and excitement to the family.

Another cultural aspect that was focused on was the education process. This was something that was also discussed in extensive detail within class. It was interesting to me to find out through the story that it was so common for the young boy to move away to a boarding school in order to be “a somebody”. He knew how much this meant for educational purposes and for his family, especially being the oldest. He knew he had to pass and take care of this important exam in order to move forward with his life, due to this he had buckled down and began to study. He ended up passing the test and moving away to boarding school. It was then the young boy knew that he might never be back to his home and showed his appreciation and love towards his community. This was when he became an adult. He showed how grateful he was to live in Kampung and knew he would miss it once he moved away. At the end of the story it does not tell us what had happened with his father and the tin company. It leaves the reader curious to know if the boy will be back to his town or if the family is also moving. This education process, however, can be compared to the American education process because of how much it means to move forward with life and school. It is important to graduate from high school and college in order to progress. It shows the passion this young boy had which is the passion of all young adults in our culture today as well.

Reading this story really shows the differences and even similarities between the Malay culture and our American culture. I thought it was extremely helpful to look at the cultural background of Malaysia first before reading this story; it helped to create a picture and then clearly understand it from an insider’s point of view. This was a fun read and I learned a lot about the culture behind this small community and the bigger picture of Malaysia.

Malaysia

Malaysia is a country in Asia that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. It is quite an interesting scene because it is divided by the South China Sea, breaking Malaysia up into two regions. These regions are known as Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. The recorded population in 2010 was 28.33 million people while 22.6 million were living on the Peninsula. These figures show the wide variation of the land and the people showing how the culture is very diverse and unique.

The most fascinating idea that had stood out to me while reading about Malaysia was their culture. It is said that Malaysia draws on the varied cultures of the many different people of Malaysia. First, the indigenous tribes settled in the area followed by Malays. And once trade began the Chinese and Indian culture made a huge influence and impact on Malaysia, while Persian, Arabic and British had made a cultural impact as well. Art and music was the true culture brought to Malaysia, which is of the biggest tradition. Performing arts are the center of attention while architecture was seen taking over the land in numerous ways. Towers and other big modern structures are being built having a huge impact on the original land. Music, on the other hand, was very traditional and kept to their ways even through all the immigration and settlements. Music was actually based around percussion instruments which told elaborate stories from the past.

Also, when discussing the various people and the many cultural differences being brought to Malaysia, cuisine is one art form where the differences can be seen vividly. Cuisine is divided along ethnic lines and dishes are seen to have mixed foods from different ethnicities. Even when there are large festivals being thrown by different religions, it is seen that it is celebrated by everyone in Malaysia. They show the support and well-being of each other and their ethnicity, even though they share different beliefs and practices. This Malaysia culture was about sharing and celebrating all culture forms which is not seen many places. Culture in this area was extremely captivating.

When discussing culture in class it had really drawn to my attention and this is why I decided to look into further detail on culture in Malaysia. Being a sociology major culture is widely discussed in many cases, especially when reviewing other countries and people. Learning these different aspects catches my attention and Malaysia is one area I have not researched about, especially culturally. As I proceeded with this research it was fascinating learning about the various numbers of people that are in Malaysia and what exactly they bring to their country. Reading the background it is interesting to see how many differences and even similarities there are between our two separate worlds. It is based on culture, place and people, which determine why we act and interact in a certain way. Being able to see and learn about these interactions challenges our mind to think of various outcomes or solutions to problems within our world. This is why it is great to be able to research and learn about other countries, especially cultures.