Gathering the Pearl

Jerry Wu

Ms.Guarino

English II

Nov.18.2015

Gathering the Pearls Review

Gathering the Pearls talked about a girl called Sookan who came to America to study. She was an international student, and her goal was to be successful. She spent most of the time doing scholarship in order to save some money, and she spent the rest of time studying. During the year, she still made a lot of friends and built up some good relationships though she was busy all the time. In the story, Sookan communicated with her family members through writing letters. She had a good relationship with her mom, and she always told her mother what was happening in the school. Her mom was very special, that she never complained about hardships. She did not want to give her children pressure. She supported Sookan to achieve her dream. Another person who kept in track with Sookan was her sister. Different as Sookan's mom, Sookan's sister wanted to control Sookan's mind, she want Sookan to be as a nun like her. She disagreed with Sookan’s goal. She always told Sookan do not get too much influence by American Culture. Both Sookan’s mom and her sister cared about her, but in different ways. Besides her family, Sookan also made good friends such as Ellen and Marci. Ellen was a outgoing girl, but Marci was a little bit shy. Both of them influenced Sookan a lot.

I liked reading this novel, because novel was more interesting than a textbook. Moreover, the story it talked about was similar to my own experience. I am also a international student who studies in America. However, different from Sookan’s experience, my life here is easier and more relaxed. I do not need to do scholarship and study for most of my time. I make new friends here, and I enjoy staying with them and having fun. My favorite part of this story was what Sookan mom told her. As a mom, she understands her children. She said that in the story: Woman was like oysters, a woman can take a painful experience and enrich herself by creating something precious from that pain. Although Sookan had some hard time when she was at school, she never gave up as her mother told her. Now she created things that were important to her which were her friends and education. Same as Sookan, my mom also talked with me when I was in America. When I felt sad or met some problems, my mom always talked with me, and I felt better after talking with her and I will know what I should do.

If my friends want me to recommend some books to them, I will recommend this book to them. As a novel, this book talks about student’s life, it is interesting and attracts reader. The story was realistic and easy to understand and reader will learn something from it. For example, after I read this book, I knew that we should never give up when we meet something painful or hard. Through pain, we could make something important or precious for ourselves.

Peter Pan Review

Jerry Wu
Mrs.Guarino
English II
Dec.15.2015

Review of Peter Pan

    During the weekend, we watched a drama show which was produced by students. It was about Peter Pan, a famous Disney film, but this was my first time seeing it.  The story started with a conversation between a family. I saw some familiar people and I heard some familiar voices. That was my friend John who was acting Mr.Darling, the father. I was surprised my friend acting so well with various intonation and perfect emotion. He was not even a native English speaker. It was so amazing to see him behaving so well on a stage during a show. Another person that caught my eyes was a "human" with dog costume. I guessed he must be acting the dog Nana of this family. It was funny to see William"the dog" barking and pretending to be a real dog.

    Overall, Peter Pan was a story talking about a magic boy Peter Pan who was trying to find his shadow in The Darlings' house. While he was searching the shadow, he fortuitously met a girl named Wendy who was the children of the Darlings. Wendy helped him to fix the shadow, and in return, Peter Pan taught her and her brothers John and Michael to fly. After that Peter Pan brought them to the Neverland to see his friends. At Neverland, Wendy became their mother because those boys here need one. However, Captain Hook the bad guy came. He fought Peter Pan and Peter Pan's friend. At the first time, Peter successfully defended his friends, but things did not last peacefully. Captain Hook came again and caught all of Peter's friend. Peter Pan had to go save them, and at last he used his intelligence and strong power "defeat" Captain Hook. And Wendy and her brothers finally got back home, and they got back with their family member.Peter and Wendy can see each other one time a year. 

    In the show, all of the actor acted out their role's characteristic. It was an interesting and well performing show. From this show, I knew what the story of Peter Pan is talking about though I haven't watched the Disney version before. Now I understand why Peter Pan did not want to grow up, and he did not want his friend to grow up. He did not want to be alone. As every body else were growing up into a man or lady, Peter did not have any changes. Peter more like to be a boy who was naive and having fun with friends.

Peter Pan Ending

At the end of the story Peter Pan, Wendy and Peter Pan only can meet each other one time a year. It was a sad ending as Wendy and Peter Pan had already create a good friendship between each other. Maybe they were not only friends and they loved each other. It should be sad for those two people who liked each other only see each other one time a year. They would miss each other. After several years, Wendy grew up into a lady, but Peter Pan stayed same without any changes. We can see that they were different and they could not be together. That will be a sad ending for them. However, the whole story ended well. Wendy and her sister and brother got back to their home, their mom finally found them. Captain Hook was died, things were back to peace. Peter Pan changed his mind about mother, he finally understanded mother is good and important to her children.

Vocabulary

Mannequin(n).  a life-size dummy used to display clothes
A small, black velvet purse hung on the shoulder of the mannequin.
Second-hand(adj) an intermediate person; used in the phrase `at second hand'
To save money, I had purchased second-hand textbooks from upperclassmen at a fraction of the original price, and I was careful not to use too many notebooks.
Animatedly(adv). in an animated manner
Many of our classmates were there, with drinks in hand, talking animatedly.
Faltered(v.) speak haltingly
"Marci"—Mrs. Gannon faltered—"I just want you to look pretty for your formal dinners at the dining hall.
Impulsive(adj) proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus
She would acknowledge that I had done something impulsive, but would say that it was okay.
You are a bit impulsive and head' strong at times, but you did well.
constrained(adj) lacking spontaneity; not natural
But maybe that was why I had wanted to leave home for a while; I had always felt constrained there.
Gregorian chant(n) liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church
A Gregorian chant program is scheduled for June, and students will be coming from around the world.
pearl(n) smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
Next to the necklace was a shiny platinum pin in the shape of a wishbone, with a single pearl in its grasp.
elope(v) run away secretly with one's beloved
I just want to elope and get our lives started now!"
taciturn(adj) talkless
I would write to each of my taciturn brothers, even though they had never written to me.
sobbed(v) cry
I sat, buried my face in my hands, and sobbed.
pouch(n) small or medium size container for holding or carrying things
In a silk pouch that Mother had made was her thin, white gold wedding band.
listlessly(adv) in a listless manner
As I stared forward listlessly, little Sarah snuggled up against me, and whispered into my ear, "I love you, Sookan." She squeezed my hand.
hymn(n) a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
I was comforted by their high-pitched hymns reverberating in the domed chapel.
fainted(v) pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
She had fainted, and they found out it was a cerebral hemorrhage.

Gathering the Pearls

Jerry Wu
Ms.Guarino
English II
Nov.5.2015
    Sookan was Korean girl who came American to study. Between America and Korea, there was so many culture differences. It was hard for a Korean students to fit into this new environment very quickly, but Sookan did it. Although it was very hard, for instance, Sookan need to do scholarship and studying for most of the time, she still figured it out and made a lot of friends. In fact, she needed to work hard to get good education. Her mom provided her this ability to study abroad so that she need to be successful to pay back.
   Through the story, we knew that she made friends such Ellen and Marci, and they were good friend. They chatted all the time, and they concern and care of each others. Although Sookan did not have a lot time staying with her friends and having fun because of her busy. They will continue being good friends in the future, because distance makes out beauty. Everything here was fine, except Sookan was busy doing all her works. She enjoyed some of the works, for instance baby sitting for the Bennett family. She'd like to spend her time looking after their children Jimmy and Sarah, and playing with them. For Jimmy and Sarah, she was nearly like a big sister, and the Bennett were like another parent for Sookan in America. Sookan mentioned that in the story, she sometimes missed her mom a lot while she was staying with the Bennett. As there were so many difference between the American Culture and Korean Culture. Sometimes when She found out those difference, she usually thought about her own family. When she missed her mom, she wrote a letter to her. In the letter she sent to her mom, she talked about her life here, and told her mom don't worry about her. Through her mother's letter, she was told to take care about herself, and she knew the things happened in Korea, how were her family member and her best friends. Sookan's mother had a great relationship with her daughter. She supported Sookan's dream and sent her to America. Also she wanted Sookan to have Freedom. Besides her mother, Sookan sometimes exchanged letter with her sister. However, her sister was very different. She did not agree with American Culture that was why she always said to Sookan do not get too much influence by the American culture. She was more like controlling Sookan's idea, and wanted her to obey. That was why she always got mad when she heard about Sookan's life here.
   As the time going, Sookan will spent all of her time studying in America until she finished her education in collage. It will be a long time, and she must feel homesick sometimes. However, she could not go back and she knew that she shouldn't. She knew that she need to finish her studying first and be successful. Then she could go back to Korea. In my opinion, I think she will be successful as she worked so hard and at last she will achieve her dream.