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3. Group D---crobinson25 (Replacement C)

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In Phuc Tran’s book, Sigh, Gone, he discusses the difficulty of figuring out his identity as an immigrant in a mostly American neighborhood. From questioning his name to determining where he fits in the social structure of his high school, Tran has to navigate learning who he is with an additional barrier to the average teenager, having a whole other culture as a large part of his life. One way that Tran finds ways to carve out his place is to read, not just to improve his vocabulary, but so he can have the same cultural references as the typical white guy, using Clifton Fadiman’s The Lifetime Reading Plan as a guide. 

At one point in the story Phuc’s father beats him so badly on his butt and the back of his legs with a metal rod, that he can’t sit down in school the next day. His second grade teacher, after several prompts to sit, calls him to her desk and he breaks down to explain why he can’t sit. She decides to call his parents and asks to visit. During her visit, Phuc is forced to wait in his bedroom, terrified this interaction will cause him to be beaten again. When she leaves, his father explains that she told them about the incident and how parents in America can’t hit their children as much as parents in Vietnam, and to Phuc’s surprise, his father heeds her words. He reflects, “My father didn’t beat me that week. Nor the next week. And he didn’t beat me for the rest of that school year. It was a long reprieve for me, and I was thankful for it.” (Tran 67)

Based on this idea and the ideas from your book, what are examples you’re seeing of where Americans aren’t explaining things clearly to immigrants and it’s causing problems? Or where, after a brief explanation, are simple things resolved after clear communication?


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Protobeing
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In my book, The Only Road, by Alexandra Diaz, a 12 year old boy and his 15 year old girl cousin flee Guatemala to live with the boy's brother in Texas. The girl’s name is Angela, and the boy’s name is Jaime. Jaime’s cousin, Angela’s brother, Miguel, is killed after refusing to join a local corrupt gang, called the Alphas. The Alphas then give Angela a letter saying her and Jaime have to join them in return for Miguel refusing. Jaime and Angela’s family arrange for them to flee to America, by truck, bus, train, and bribery, to live with their brother in a land where they will have a life. They face lots of challenges along the way, meet lots of friends and enemies, and are currently hopping trains in Northern Mexico to try to reach the border. My characters have never interacted with Americans yet on a level of clear communication. The only thing that's close is an unclear understanding of American immigration policies and how my characters view that.

 

"'That's why they're building a wall. I saw a picture of a fence going into the ocean. They say it's to keep their country safe. But really, it's to keep us out.' Jaime recalled a couple photos Tomas had sent" (Diaz 81).

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Protobeing
Posts: 18

You say that one of the people in your book, Miguel, is killed by a corrupt gang. Does anyone else get hurt by the gang just because they refused to join?

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Protobeing
Joined: 1 year ago

My book Exit west by Mohsin Hamid is about two lovers trying to stay safe in a war that is taking place in and outside their city. In some parts of the novel there is times when the main characters try to help immigrants get used to their new life, and also help them get comfortable. "...Saeed and Nadia noticed an almost daily swelling of their own camp with new arrivals...On their days off workers were encouraged to help out around the camp, and Saeed often volunteered to help process and settle the camp's latest additions." (Hamid 183)

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Member
Posts: 278

How does this relate to the question? What connections are you seeing between this example and where communication is breaking down?

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Protobeing
Joined: 1 year ago

In my book there is not just a language barrier but a whole concept barrier as well. Throughout my book there is moments where some things just aren't understood as a whole. "No lookin' back...You just do the right thing now." (178 Marquadt) It shows that even though one person saw something one way another person can see and understand it differently and have a better attitude about it. 

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