I really liked the Tang Yuan because it was very similar to Japanese mochi. I found it interesting that there are foods that are similar in our cultures but also very unique to each. For your memoir, I really liked how you started off with the proverb because it gave context to your personal story. Also, you're sister was very cute, even adding to the family connection when you were cooking in the kitchen and she was prancing around. In the discussion, I agreed with your comment about how it was not fair that Janie was treated unfairly by the neighbors because all she did was start gossip, not even being the generator of it, while Helen was depicted as a horrible person because she started a war.
Your food memoir was so enjoyable to watch! I loved the inclusion of your little sister -- she clearly adds spark to your home life and I think it’s awesome that she got to do so in the video as well. I also loved the idea of beginning the memoir with the tale of Yuan Xiao. That was so creative and really added to the overall piece. In the discussion and your fishbowl notes, the theme of physical divisions comes up on multiple occasions. Often times, physical barriers are used in literature to emphasize the presence of internal barriers. For example, you included the quote in “To Helen” that said, “Lo! in yon brilliant window-niche/How statue-like I see thee stand”. This quote is a perfect example of the significance of a physical barrier; the subject, Helen, stands in the window, just out of reach; this further entices the speaker, who is enamored by Helen, and wants her for himself. This idea also translates to both stories in your memoir. Yuan Xiao was kept from her family, creating a division within herself that compelled her to take action. Although you live in the states, your heart is tied to your culture and family in China (something I can totally relate to). The distance between the US and the China emphasizes the disconnect between yourself and your cousins, “Although Yuan Xiao did not move to an entirely different country, she was separated from her family, as I am from my relatives. Whenever I see my relatives in China I feel slightly left out because of the differences in our lives, I miss out on the close relationships my cousins are able to form without me.”
Kelly, I wasn't here for your presentation, but I just read your food memoir and I love the story you incorporated and what it means to you. I especially enjoyed your metaphor, calling your life a "balancing act of cultures". I think it's so interesting that so many students like you have such a connection to both American culture and another country's culture, and I loved reading about that. I wish I could have tried your dish!
Looking through your fishbowl discussion notes, I thought it was interesting how you took "multiple forces within the self" to then think about Janie's willingness to be obedient to her husbands versus her inner forces that made her want to run away or hang out with the townsmen when she is supposed to be working the store. It reminded me of my group's prompt, about performance, and your answer to the open-ended question on your notes has me thinking about it again -- how much she was pretending, and how hard it was for her to keep those inner voices inside her that were so unhappy, such as when Jody made her tie up her hair out of envy. Thank you for helping stir my thoughts with your notes!
Kelly, I wasn't here for your presentation, but I just read your food memoir and I love the story you incorporated and what it means to you. I especially enjoyed your metaphor, calling your life a "balancing act of cultures". I think it's so interesting that so many students like you have such a connection to both American culture and another country's culture, and I loved reading about that. I wish I could have tried your dish!
Looking through your fishbowl discussion notes, I thought it was interesting how you took "multiple forces within the self" to then think about Janie's willingness to be obedient to her husbands versus her inner forces that made her want to run away or hang out with the townsmen when she is supposed to be working the store. It reminded me of my group's prompt, about performance, and your answer to the open-ended question on your notes has me thinking about it again -- how much she was pretending, and how hard it was for her to keep those inner voices inside her that were so unhappy, such as when Jody made her tie up her hair out of envy. Thank you for helping stir my thoughts with your notes!
Hi Kelly! I think you had a great video. Your sister was very cute and having your family around to help make Tang Yuan helped reinforce the theme of your connection to your family and China. I felt that red on black was a bad choice for the poster. It made it very hard to read the text on it. I felt you should have talked more in the fishbowl, it felt like you were following others’ lead rather than leading the discussion. The discussion on foreshadowing how the marriages turned out was good discussion; I'd never considered that element and it helped me think about Their Eyes were Watching God a bit more complexly. Noting the strong parallels to both "Helen" poems also added to the complexity. Overall, great video but I didn't really like your poster. I think what you said for the discussion was good, but I wanted more.
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ReplyDeleteI really liked the Tang Yuan because it was very similar to Japanese mochi. I found it interesting that there are foods that are similar in our cultures but also very unique to each. For your memoir, I really liked how you started off with the proverb because it gave context to your personal story. Also, you're sister was very cute, even adding to the family connection when you were cooking in the kitchen and she was prancing around. In the discussion, I agreed with your comment about how it was not fair that Janie was treated unfairly by the neighbors because all she did was start gossip, not even being the generator of it, while Helen was depicted as a horrible person because she started a war.
ReplyDeleteYour food memoir was so enjoyable to watch! I loved the inclusion of your little sister -- she clearly adds spark to your home life and I think it’s awesome that she got to do so in the video as well. I also loved the idea of beginning the memoir with the tale of Yuan Xiao. That was so creative and really added to the overall piece.
ReplyDeleteIn the discussion and your fishbowl notes, the theme of physical divisions comes up on multiple occasions. Often times, physical barriers are used in literature to emphasize the presence of internal barriers. For example, you included the quote in “To Helen” that said, “Lo! in yon brilliant window-niche/How statue-like I see thee stand”. This quote is a perfect example of the significance of a physical barrier; the subject, Helen, stands in the window, just out of reach; this further entices the speaker, who is enamored by Helen, and wants her for himself. This idea also translates to both stories in your memoir. Yuan Xiao was kept from her family, creating a division within herself that compelled her to take action. Although you live in the states, your heart is tied to your culture and family in China (something I can totally relate to). The distance between the US and the China emphasizes the disconnect between yourself and your cousins, “Although Yuan Xiao did not move to an entirely different country, she was separated from her family, as I am from my relatives. Whenever I see my relatives in China I feel slightly left out because of the differences in our lives, I miss out on the close relationships my cousins are able to form without me.”
Kelly, I wasn't here for your presentation, but I just read your food memoir and I love the story you incorporated and what it means to you. I especially enjoyed your metaphor, calling your life a "balancing act of cultures". I think it's so interesting that so many students like you have such a connection to both American culture and another country's culture, and I loved reading about that. I wish I could have tried your dish!
ReplyDeleteLooking through your fishbowl discussion notes, I thought it was interesting how you took "multiple forces within the self" to then think about Janie's willingness to be obedient to her husbands versus her inner forces that made her want to run away or hang out with the townsmen when she is supposed to be working the store. It reminded me of my group's prompt, about performance, and your answer to the open-ended question on your notes has me thinking about it again -- how much she was pretending, and how hard it was for her to keep those inner voices inside her that were so unhappy, such as when Jody made her tie up her hair out of envy. Thank you for helping stir my thoughts with your notes!
Kelly, I wasn't here for your presentation, but I just read your food memoir and I love the story you incorporated and what it means to you. I especially enjoyed your metaphor, calling your life a "balancing act of cultures". I think it's so interesting that so many students like you have such a connection to both American culture and another country's culture, and I loved reading about that. I wish I could have tried your dish!
ReplyDeleteLooking through your fishbowl discussion notes, I thought it was interesting how you took "multiple forces within the self" to then think about Janie's willingness to be obedient to her husbands versus her inner forces that made her want to run away or hang out with the townsmen when she is supposed to be working the store. It reminded me of my group's prompt, about performance, and your answer to the open-ended question on your notes has me thinking about it again -- how much she was pretending, and how hard it was for her to keep those inner voices inside her that were so unhappy, such as when Jody made her tie up her hair out of envy. Thank you for helping stir my thoughts with your notes!
Hi Kelly! I think you had a great video. Your sister was very cute and having your family around to help make Tang Yuan helped reinforce the theme of your connection to your family and China. I felt that red on black was a bad choice for the poster. It made it very hard to read the text on it. I felt you should have talked more in the fishbowl, it felt like you were following others’ lead rather than leading the discussion. The discussion on foreshadowing how the marriages turned out was good discussion; I'd never considered that element and it helped me think about Their Eyes were Watching God a bit more complexly. Noting the strong parallels to both "Helen" poems also added to the complexity. Overall, great video but I didn't really like your poster. I think what you said for the discussion was good, but I wanted more.
ReplyDelete