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.