United States Immigration

            One of the first things I found when looking at the United States immigration policy, is that there is a limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants. I found this rather interesting as never before had I ever recognized there was a limit. This also brought up the question of if there can only be that many permanent immigrants then how many are here illegally? I also found it interesting that the United States is looking to have immigrants come to our country that have skills valuable to the United States, or helps to unify families. This brought up more questions as I wondered how the United States makes the decision on skilled labor and being a valuable part of this country. I am sure there is a long process to decipher all of the evidence, but it has to be hard with such a limited number of permanent residents.

            When reading about unifying families, I found it to be very interesting and nice to find that family members can be brought to the United States and given a chance to be whole once again. While I have known that the U.S. has been a place of refuge, learning that we actively allow families to become unified is both heartwarming and good to know as this has never been brought to my attention before today. One possible downfall to all of this though, is the section about sponsors and or the section on meeting requirements. It seemed to be decently confusing as I scanned through the information to dial down what specifically has to be done and how to go about that. The information I found dealt specifically with numbers and who is allowed to immigrate, so the how to eluded my search and left me wondering.

            Another thing I stumbled upon was the Diversity Visa Program. It stated that each year since 1990 55,000 visas are randomly given to nationals from countries that have sent less than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the last 5 years. The information stated that this was originally created to allow immigration from Ireland and in the beginning 40% of the visas were given to Irish immigrants. The plus side to this program is that it is an avenue for certain immigrants that is the only way they secure a green card and are able to get to the United States. Another interesting fact was that immigrants must have a high school education to be accepted into this program. I found this program to be very interesting and wanting to learn more. When it came to the requirement of a high school education though, the restrictions started to get pretty strict and possibly limiting as the restrictions became more than I expected to gain acceptance to this country. Having to have worked or gained experience of two years on a profession seems rather limiting and must be tough for individuals to meet. What I ended up wondering, was that if 50,000 people are allowed to immigrate a year from this, how many get rejected each year? I also wondered that if you are rejected, can you reapply until you get into the United States? I find it interesting that there is a lottery that takes place and I had never heard of it before. What I think would be interesting is to look at all of the immigrants and see how the transitions workout once the immigrants have been here for a couple years.     

Crossing the Wire

                After reading Crossing the Wire, I gained a new understanding of what people go through when attempting to get into the United States. It was very interesting reading and understanding why people would attempt to get into the United States. Never before had I really thought about the possibility of people needing to help their families and the hardships faced when attempting to gain that help from within the Unites States borders.

                Never before had I thought about the struggles and hardships that are faced when attempting to enter the United States. Once meeting Victor within our story I was shocked to hear everything that he dealt with. Having to deal with the elements such as extreme heat and the cold would be enough to stop most people, but Victor had larger goals and it was good to see the other side of a hotly debated topic. Throughout this story I sided with Victor and his cause because while this may be a controversial topic, enduring all of these hardships for your family is something that had to be done, especially in Victor’s case.

                While Victor is attempting to get into the United States for a good cause, I could not help but wonder if many immigrants even if illegal attempting to get into the United States are in a similar situation to Victor. I constantly thought about and felt bad for all of the immigrants that can not get into America and in turn cannot help out their families. By reading Crossing the Wire, I feel like I finally started looking at the other side of this controversial topic. Reading this story took me back to the days when I worked in an orchard in my local town and there were workers who all they could do is go orchard to orchard in attempt to feed their families. Reading this book gave me a totally different feeling when looking back at what I experienced at a younger age. When looking back I could not help but think how naïve I was about immigration and how not all people are only thinking of themselves when entering the United States.

                Another issue within this book that I found interesting was that once Victor was in the United States he did not immediately make money and find a way to help his family. This made me think about how it is not guaranteed when entering the United States that money awaits. I believe that many people believe that upon entering the United States money and happiness waits, but the truth is that being an illegal immigrant puts people in a very tough situation that may not get easier as time goes on. Overall Crossing the Wire made me think about all of the issues surrounding immigration and how so many families are going through hardships in attempt to make a living.

                While I read through this book I could not stop thinking about how young Victor was and how far he was willing to go for his family. This story was very inspirational and spoke to how hard work can give hope to everyone no matter the hardships that are thrown in front of someone. Crossing the Wire simultaneously shed light on a topic I had not fully looked into while also showing the struggle to help out one’s own family.  Throughout this book I found myself inspired along with informed on a subject that needs to be dealt with.   

Sold

                To begin with, reading this book has been one of the hardest yet informational things I have had to read throughout my schooling. Reading about slavery and specifically the sex trade is something that will never be easy, and yet I agree with this book being required for us to read as we need to know what is going on in the world around us. The book Sold by Patricia McCormick gave me a better understanding of the sex trade along with what goes on in the world around us.

                One of the first things I found interesting within the book is how Lakshmi takes on raising her goat. There is a lot of emphasis put on the goat and I found it interesting that while the family is struggling to eat they are able to still raise a goat. Within my group on Monday we spoke about how this must have been Lakshmis’ prized possession much like how we have cars or trinkets of our own. As I began to think about her goat as her prized possession, I wondered how much money could have been received for the goat. I later made the comparison that if Lakshmi was only paid around eleven dollars for that the goat could not have brought in very much money.

                Lakshmi being sold for a little fewer than eleven dollars brought me to my second struggle within this book. How can a person sell another person? While it is hard to connect all of the pieces and understand everything that goes into a family selling their child, just reading through this book sent shivers down my spine. I would like to think it takes a lot to shock me now, but so much that we have talked about with human trafficking and reading the pages within Sold have done just that. Once Lakshmi had been sold into prostitution, I could not imagine how her world came crashing down once she realized what had happened. To think you are going to make money and help your family would give someone such hope and determination, but in this case to become a sex slave has to seem like the world is coming to an end.

                One thing I found very cool and interesting is how the author, Patricia McCormick, went to Nepal and India in search of evidence. The fact that Patricia was able to interview women of the Calcutta red-light district was both good when realizing she knew what she was talking about throughout the book, but also gut wrenching at the same time. I could not imagine the pain that interviewing women formerly trapped in the sex slave trade would feel like. When writing a book like this on such a tough subject, the interviews had to of helped with facts used within the story and getting the background knowledge necessary to put an entire book together like this.

                Reading material like this is something I fee will never become easy, yet the knowledge that has come from reading material of this magnitude will never hinder me. While it may be hard to talk about or even keep flipping the pages, learning about the sex slave trade has really opened my eyes. Reading Sold along with the discussions on the sex slave trade have enlightened me on the magnitude of this problem and how it hits so close to home when I had no idea before. 

Nepal

Nepal

                When looking at Nepal, I decided to start by looking at images before entering the culture. By looking at images I once again discovered how beautiful Nepal is. While not as advanced as Malaysia, all of the colors and scenery within Nepal. All of the images seemed to portray a laid back and religious based society. While the images gave an understanding, searching through the facts about Nepal gave a much better understanding.

                The first thing I discovered is that there are one hundred and twenty three languages spoken in Nepal. Nepal’s linguistic heritage evolved from Indo-Aryan to Tibeto-Burman then to indigenous. The main language spoken to date is Nepali at around 45%. After language, I took a look at the religious aspects of Nepal due to many of the pictures I saw. What I discovered, was that 80.6% of the people practice Hinduism and Buddhism is practiced at around 11%. There are also many people who practice a blend between the two religions, but that number was uncertain. The information I discovered also pointed to philosophy being deeply rooted within Nepal. Nepal is known for tantric traditions as well, specifically animal sacrifice.

                From multiple sources I found there are five animals that are acceptable to sacrifice. These animals are always male and then are determined to be acceptable for sacrifice. The five animals are water buffalo, goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks. I found it curious that the animals acceptable for sacrifice had to be male. I could not find the answer to this, but there must be traditions going back as far as anyone knows to prove for the reasoning behind this.

                The next place I looked was festivals and celebrations.  It is said that celebrations last from a single day to multiple days depending on the event. There is a festival called Dashain which is the longest and most important festival in Nepal. Dashain is held for fifteen days and the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. It was interesting looking at this festival because in America our celebrations usually go for a single day. The emphasis of this festival is to bring family together while also reconnecting with the community. I found it rather cool that there is a celebration which not only brings families together but is able to focus on the community simultaneously. I am a large advocate for family and community which made this celebration fun to look and discover the meaning behind this festival.

                The last thing I took a look at was ethnic groups. All of the major ethnic groups in Nepal I had never even heard of. The Chhettri were the largest at 15.5% followed by the Brahman-Hill at 12.5%. While these were the largest two groups, as I discovered the rest I still had no idea who any of these Ethnic groups were. I found this so interesting because it showed how much I did not know about the world. While I consider myself fairly knowledgeable and open when it comes to the world, not knowing any major ethnic group living in Nepal was quite shocking. Nepal was rather interesting to delve into and attempt to find background information on. While I know there is a lot more to know about Nepal, I feel like this was a great start. 

Museum Piece Writings

          My father’s 1937 Chevy Sedan has been a part of my family for forty five years. Growing up restoring cars and attending car shows has placed me into Hot Rodding culture. Being a part of Hot Rodding, specifically with this car, links me to what is referred to as a class of cars called Street Rods. Spending countless hours in a shop with my dad, I have worked on a variety of cars and have been introduced to the vast array of differences that attract people to Hot Rodding. Born generations after the birth of Hot Rodding, I am able to combine the past and present linking me to Hot Rodders of any generation. Having a car passed from generation to generation has planted the love of cars firmly in my life along with helping define who I am.  

            Fitness, specifically bodybuilding links me to the 21^st century movement of pushing the human body to the limit in hope of losing fat and gaining muscle. Looking to the past I find inspiration in the form of Arnold Schwarzenegger, pictured above. Arnold epitomizes the sport of bodybuilding and reigned atop the sport for years. Partaking in the enjoyment of classic bodybuilding puts me in a limited group of enthusiasts while shaping how I train in the gym today. In my teen years I was very unhealthy and out of shape, leading me to today where I mix old school bodybuilding with modern day knowledge. Looking back at pictures of myself I find the motivation that pushes me to continue my bodybuilding journey each day. While never planning on competing, taking the classic approach of using iron to shape the human body is something I strive for. Fitness links the past to the present for me and while I may never compete, bodybuilding has provided a chance to become a part of a movement that will forever shape my life. 

            Friends are something that everyone has, yet cannot be taken for granted. My group of friends helps to create my identity while I help to create theirs. This picture shows just that, good friends are hard to come by and when you find ones like mine you do everything you can to keep them. My friends are a true identity of who I am. They have been with me through every change in my life and they are what have helped shape me throughout the years. My friends and I have created a culture where we all thrive and can be ourselves. The friends I choose to surround myself with are an extension of me and who I see myself being. Each of my friends has assets that I admire along with being a group who I will always be there for.

  

            Beach volleyball is something that has defined me since high school. Being from Central Washington, beach volleyball is a rather small sporting community and yet the competition is fierce. Taking the time to perfect the art of volleyball has given me the opportunity to not only play the sport, but gain knowledge and respect for the sport simultaneously. Playing against a range of players from beginners to professionals, the sport of beach volleyball has shaped my life while creating friendships wherever I travel. Being a part of beach volleyball has provided for life skills such as discipline, hard work, and strategy which shows how important beach volleyball has been in my life. Participating in a sport not widely known in this area has allowed me to become an ambassador for the sport and attempt to grow the sport shaping how I view the sport of beach volleyball. Choosing a sport unknown to most has allowed for the selection of a sport which bests suits myself along with what I stand for. Beach volleyball has helped define who I am on a sporting standpoint along with influencing my cultural identity each step of the way.   

            Music is something that has shaped my life for as long as I can remember. From going to car shows to attending concerts, ZZ Top has linked the past to everything that I enjoy today. ZZ Top sings about Hot Rods and has been a major influence since the first car show I attended. By creating a rock n roll scene, I was able to instantly relate too many of their songs while enjoying other hobbies simultaneously. ZZ Top has linked my passion for cars into my music and vice versa as cars helped fuel my passion towards this band. By listening to what is considered classic rock, I am able to help bridge the gap between the past and present in multiple endeavors as I do my best to keep old school Hot Rodding alive. Listening to ZZ Top puts me in a much older crowd and yet I feel right at home. Culturally this band has helped define me because while I may be young, I have a lot in common with the older generations who were able to grow up alongside ZZ Top.

            Johnny Cash has been a large influence in my life because of the passion I can hear in his songs. By listening to his music and reading the book presented here, I can have a peek inot the life of my most influential musician growing up. While Johnny Cash may have slower songs and be telling a story throughout his songs, that is what hooked me. Johnny Cash has helped to culturally define me because of his art of telling stories. I have a passion for listening to stories and hearing what other have been through; Johnny Cash is able to do both within his songs and in this book. I have yet to meet many people who enjoy Johnny Cash the same as I do, but I have gotten to know many of my family stories because of listening and always wanting to know more. My grandparents have always listened to Johnny Cash and I became hooked as soon as I heard his voice. I am hooked on a voice that sounds like it has been through the bad and the good. Having experienced so much within his life, Johnny Cash has helped me sift through my own family and discover what my family has been through as well.    

Kampung Boy

                When I began reading Kampung Boy, I really was unsure what to expect. What I got upon completion, was a children’s book that can speak to any age. The comedy would appeal to a younger group, while the aspects of culture and the town of Kampong disappearing would appeal more to adults. By following Mat throughout Kampung Boy, we are introduced to life in Malaysia and how it changed.

                Throughout the story, I found the drawings to often portray more of a humorous tone then the words that accompanied the drawings. I like that the drawings portrayed humor because that would make this book an easier read for children. While this book does speak to adult topics, I believe that this book is perfect for children as well. I enjoyed that we were able to look at another culture through the eyes of a child and children within schools today could compare and contrast their lives to what we are shown by Mat.

                Something that was rather intriguing was that the book seemed to jump around as if it was written by a child because of how it jumped from place to place. We would be reading about Mat and his schooling and the next page we are shown he has another brother. It was interesting to keep up with the storyline as it jumped around, because I would have to think back and link together the family and everything that has taken place. I also became curious at this point how younger students would do when reading this book. I was worried about students being able to link everything together throughout the entire story.

                One of my favorite things throughout Kampung Boy, was being able to see all of the traditions and differences with my own coming of age. This is also where I became curious about what age this book this book is normally taught at. When the circumcision section within the book came up, I stopped to think about how to explain that to children. I am guessing there is a particular way to go about explaining this situation to students, but I was caught off guard when it came up within the story. Other than the circumcision aspect though, this story is a great coming of age story and would be a great read for students.

                Overall this story is relatable for most people as we have all dealt with coming of age stories and handled our difficulties along the way. As I neared the end of the story, I began thinking about my own coming of age and preparing to leave for college. It is weird to think back and remember the anxiety and sadness of leaving everything in attempt to discover something new. I believe each of us handles these situations different and yet similar in many ways as we all will come of age and reflect back on what has happened. Like Mat, I came from a rather small town that many people have never heard of. I felt similarity between both of our experiences and it reminded me how nervous I was to take on a similar adventure. This is a great read and a book I would attempt to use within the curriculum within my own classroom.