Funny in Farsi ZW

In the Gutter

(Pg.14)

In his attempts to embrace American culture, my father had joined the local bowling league.

I thought this quote related to Children of the River, because Ravy and Sundara also try to embrace the American culture by going to sporting events like football and try to understand what everyone finds interesting about it.

(Pg.14)

His dream was that the doorbell would ring and he would answer it. Standing there would be a man in a three-piece navy blue suit who would ask him, "Are you Kazem?"

This made me think of how many people from other countries think everybody in America is rich, when the truth is that most people are not that rich here, and many people come to America expecting to get rich but it never happens for them.

Funny in Farsi ZW

Bernice

(Pg.38)

As Bernice waddled across the gym, I wanted to make her an offer. "How about I tell tell Lupe not to come next week, since you're going to be on vacation, and we just call it a day.

I thought this was interesting because people do sometimes automatically think that because you are foreign you work for Americans. I also thought it was funny that she actually said that because she was just saying how she felt.Sundara had eventually spoke how she flet when confronting Cathy.


(Pg.40)

Have you noticed how all the recent cereal killers have been Americans? I won't hold it against you.

I think that when she said this it showed just how other people feel when we look at on group of people all the same. She also made it a good point, most cereal killers are white and we don't walk around thinking every single white person is one, but we do that to other types of races.

Funny in Farsi ZW

A Dozen Key Chains

(Pg.42)

This reputation, carved in stone, is usually the result of a somewhat random act that for some unknown reason takes on a far greater meaning, and becomes the defining movement in a life.

This works in American culture too because kids do things that live with them the rest of their lives and that they are known for in there family, even if they are embarrassing!!

(Pg.46)

There was one bathroom on the floor for all the girls to share. Oddly, the door to the bathroom had been removed, so any girl who needed to use the toilet or the sink would walk in on someone taking a shower.

To Americans this situation would be no big deal but to other cultures were religion is so important this could become a serious problem.

Funny in Farsi ZW

Me and Bob Hope

(Pg.104)

The great American philosopher Dr. Seuss once wrote about a fellow named the Grinch, who for some mysteriously reason, did not enjoy Christmas.

I am pretty sure that everyone grew up with the Grinch. We all loved that he would try to steal Christmas but in the end he would grow a heart and give it all back. Sundara didn't hate Christmas she just practiced a different religion than everyone else.

(Pg.)

When I married a Catholic I became a card carrying member of the Christmas Club. Now, every December, my children and I drag a tree into out house , leaving a trail of pine needlessness the tree need to find its way back.

Mt grandmother is a Catholic and my Mom, Dad, sister and I are Christian, so when ever she visits our church she says that it feels weird because she is a Catholic. I really don't see much of a difference.Sundara how ever is a Buddhist
and every one around her is either a christian or a catholic.

Funny in Farsi ZW

Save Me, Mickey

(Pg.17)

Because we were new to this country, we were impressed not just by the big attractions but also by the little things- smiling employees, clean bathrooms, and clear signage. Our ability to be impressed by the large selection of key chains at the souvenir shops guaranteed that every place we saw delighted us.

This quote appealed to me because it is very true. In some countries, their bathrooms were very much disgusting and clean ones were hard to find. Plus, employees have to be nice to their customers and be annoyingly happy. Sundara noticed a lot of the little things that we wouldn’t even think of. Like the teacher reading out loud work and some of the little things bothered her instead of delight.

(Pg.22)

We had to leave Disneyland early that day because my father was too weak in the knees to continue. Even the thought of “Pirates of the Caribbean” could not revive him.

My dad is very laid back when it comes to having fun in an amusement park. It's usually my mom that wants to get up early, catch the bus, and hit all the rides we can in as much time we can muster up. As far as Sundara its hard to tell when she is having fun like on the boat she didn't really express much happiness and she is always quite.

Funny in Farsi ZW

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

I like what this says a lot because it sums up what I have been taught in school and at home because outside of what some one practices the only thing that matters it how they treat others and how they act.Sundara was probably judged because she wasn't a Christian and because she as white if she didn't fit in she was ridiculed for who she was as a person.


(Pg.82)

Catering to the European expatriates, some stores in Abadan carried foreign foods, exotic products such as Ovaltine, Kit Kat candy bars, and ham.

This like the time when I was at Kevin Jackson's house his mom had gone down to the Korean market and she spent the whole day there, she brought back a bundle of different sweets and rice. Everything was great and I really like their, what I think is, fried chocolate balls. Sundara was not use to the American style food so she would eat what Soka made from what they bought at the farmers market.

Funny in Farsi ZW

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

What I think this is saying is that Americans are trying to invite more immigrants to America just like we are food.I have meet a few new names and ethnicity's like my two friends Cindy and Ashly Moon. They are from Korea and didn't speak any English when I met them.Sundara was also a new face in American Culture she also could not speak the language well when she got here.

(Pg.66)

Every once and a while, though, somebody comes up with a new permutation and I am once again reminded that am an immigrant with a foreign name

I know how she feels because I go through the same thing every few moths or so when ever I meet someone new.I have a name that when ever I meet some one new I have to slowly pronounce my name and give the spelling just for them to say Zared. I usually say it's like Jared with a "Z" that seems to work a lot.Sundara has an unusual name as well, I can see who they both feel because of their unusual names.

Funny in Farsi ZW

With a little Help from my friends

(Pg.31)

...I found myself being interviewed nonstop by children and adults alike. My life became one long-running Oprah show, minus the free luxury accommodations in Chicago, and Oprah.

I can see what she means because I have gone through the same thing.My dad went over seas when I was in Elementary school and I found myself being asked a variety of different questions and me not knowing the answers to any of them because I was young. When my dad returned for good I was still being asked questions like "Is he going back over seas?" and other variations of the same question. Sundara was interviewed by Jonathan due to his project and him liking her a lot. Plus she could speak English and understand what people meant.





(Pg.32)

Having exhausted our geological clues, we would say,"You've heard of India, Japan, or China? We're on the same continent."

This is very funny because it is true that people, when given a clue, don't know where countries are. When my dad was over seas I was asked where he was and I would try to tell them but they wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about. Sundara didn't have that problem when explaining where she was from because her country is pretty famous.

Funny in Farsi ZW

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.

In American culture it doesn't really matter if the parents like each other because it only matters what the bride and groom think about each other. Soka has to pick a suitable Cambodian man to marry Sundara because that was Sundara's mom's last wish for Sundara when they last talked. I am confused as of why it matters if the parents like each other because they should care about they people actually getting married.


(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

When I was in Florida we went to Epcot to have most of our dinners. In Epcot there are many different counties that are circled around the lake there, one night we went to a Mexican restaurant. They only had spicy, hot Mexican food and my sister, who is seven, doesn't really like spicy food so it ended up being thrown away.I think that she is right, American food is very different from Iranian food. We had a tendency to over fry our food and make a lot of food bad for you, where as Iranian food they have stir fry, which is very healthy, and many different kinds of vegies. Ravy had been trying American food and liking it unlike his relatives.

Funny in Farsi ZW

Leffingwell Elementary School
(Pg. 7)

After spending an entire day in America, surrounded by Americans, I realized that my father's description had been correct. The bathrooms were clean and the people were very, very nice.

I think that she is right our country is filled with nice people and clean bathrooms, we lack to WOW factor that makes our standards higher than other countries like Paris, with the Eiffel Tower, their amazing food and, their wine. What we have is nice and clean but, we need our own WOW factor not something that we can buy or fry.This is like going to an amusement park. You don't know what it's going to be like until you get there, and when you get there you realize that the bathrooms are clean and the people are very, very nice.Sundara had experienced the same thing with her friend Kelly. Kelly had been nice to Sundara since day one and have been friends since. I am a bit surprised that Kelly had been with Sundara for this long and not given up.





(Pg. 4

)After a few awkward attempts by my mother to find Iran on the map, Mrs. Sandberg finally understood that it wasn't my mothers lack of English that was causing the problem, but rather her lack of world geography. Smiling graciously, she pointed my mother back to her seat. Mrs. Sandberg then showed everyone, including my mother and me, where Iran was on the map.

I think that when she couldn't point it out because she was not educated as a child and it is effecting her as an adult outside of Iran. Where as Sundara had been taught where Iran was in preschool. I was volunteering in Maine Medical Center when I need to call a taxi for this one women that had trouble speaking English, she was trying to give me her address and I couldn't understand her at all. I had eventually had her call home and have some one I can talk to so that I can get an address. It took a while but in the end it worked. Sundara's aunt Soka had received a letter saying that not to hesitate to respond, but since she could not read English her friend translated it and didn't see the word "hesitate" and Soka was in a fuss about it because she thought that she was not allowed to send letters anymore to find her sister.I was confused that she couldn't find her own country where she was born and raised form.