On their way to Oakland, Hana’s mind was overwhelmed with many questions and thoughts she had about her future. She did not want to sound callous towards Taro, her supposedly future husband, so she kept them all to herself. As they neared Oakland, she thought about what she was going to say to Taro and his family. It was too early to make any judgements, but no one informed her that Taro was an old man. She couldn’t call off the marriage, she had nowhere to live if she did. She also did not want to return back to Japan where she was miserable. America seemed like a nice place to live and she was excited to experience what it held. Eventually, she satisfied herself with the decision of staying with Mr. and Mrs. Toda for a little while to get …show more content…
They walked to a two-story house, where Taro’s family greeted her with warm smiles and a bow. Hana bowed back and briefly smiled. She looked into their eyes and sensed some kind of former sorrow, she instantly regretted her previous judgmental thoughts and replaced them with sympathetic ones. “Welcome Hana to America, we are happy to see you! Would you like some tea?” Mrs. Toda said with a genuine smile. Hana sat down on one of the couches, while Mrs. Toda poured her some tea. The house wasn’t as luxurious as Hana had hoped, but it was pretty nice with its antique décor. Hana sipped her tea, and her stomach thanked her, for she hadn’t eaten in days. She looked up and realized that they were all staring at her, waiting for her to say something. “How are all of you doing today?” Hana asked with a red face. She was embarrassed that she was quiet for that long. “We are happy now that you are here, Hana! How is your family? Mrs. Toda replied in a bit too cheery tone. “My mom and sister are fine. My uncle sends his greetings,” Hana responded quickly. “Ah, your uncle is a good man, did he send you here?” Mr.Toda said in a longing tone. “He says that you are a well-educated woman, who likes her studies.” “Yes, I am studying to become a doctor, but God knows best,” Hana answered. “I like this lady,
To begin, Cecilia is resistant to abandoning her class trip to help her grandmother after her surgery. Once they had arrived at grandma’s house, they check on grandma and Cecilia soon realizes that “Grandma looked tired, but she was so happy to see them Cecilia felt a little better” (1). Cecilia is not happy about skipping the trip but seeing her grandma made her happy. You can tell that family is getting through to her. Altogether, Cecilia is beginning
Florence is in her headquarters at the hospital, she works at. She is writing a letter to a patient's mother. When all of a sudden, Mary, a fellow nurse, walks in. Mary and Florence talk about how nice it is to work with each other and how happy Mary is here. Mary quotes, “ I’m glad I’m here with you Miss Nightengale. Good Night.” at the end of their discussion.Also, they talk about how both of their families don’t really want them there. They talk for a little and Florence seems very at home and happy. Later, after Mary had left, two gentlemen come to talk to Florence. It is Dr. Goodale and Dr. Hall that have come to speak with her. After talking for a while they both leave and let Florence to her work. In the hospital, Florence seemed like an entire new person, she was much more
Some were as young as fourteen while some were mothers who were forced to leave their child behind in Japan, but for these women the sacrifice will be worth it once they get to San Francisco. Yet, the women desired a better life separate from their past, but brought things that represent their culture desiring to continue the Buddha traditions in America; such as, their kimonos, calligraphy brushes, rice paper, tiny brass Buddha, fox god, dolls from their childhood, paper fans, and etc. (Otsuka, 2011, p. 9) A part of them wanted a better life full of respect, not only toward males but also toward them, and away from the fields, but wanted to continue the old traditions from their home land. These hopes of a grand new life was shattered when the boat arrived to America for none of the husbands were recognizable to any of the women. The pictures were false personas of a life that didn’t really exist for these men, and the men were twenty years older than their picture. All their hopes were destroyed that some wanted to go home even before getting off the boat, while others kept their chins up holding onto their hope that maybe something good will come from this marriage and walked off the boat (Otsuka, 2011, p.
Each Mother brought baggage with her across the pacific. They wanted to teach their daughters from all of their pain and suffering, but were never able to communicate the complexities of their life. Suyuan Woo struggles to explain herself to her daughter "'This feather may look worthless, but it comes from afar and carries with it all my good intentions.' And she waited, year after year, for the day she could tell her daughter this in perfect American English"(3). The journey that brought Suyuan to America was long and full of hardship. From the Japanese invasion of Kweilin were she lost her husband and had to leave her daughters, to her assimilation in America. Suyuan wanted to teach her daughter about these hardships so that she could understand the extent of her potential. " My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in Ameri...
The mothers understand this function of storytelling and use it to provide their daughters with a connection to Chinese culture as well as a method for passing on their personal values and advice. In addition, these narratives illustrate the mothers' displacement in American society as well as the daughters' struggle to form an Asian-American identity. Storytelling is the most effective means for the mothers to share their personal histories and "all [their] good intentions" {The Joy Luck Club.
...a of what his life would have been had he been born and raised by an American Family. This shows that he has been trying to run away from the shadow of his own Culture in an effort to gain acceptance in the American Culture. However, his unruly behavior might have resulted due to the lack of support from his family especially his father. His father’s determination of trying to keep him bounded to the Korean tradition and values might have what actually pushed Henry away. For example, when Henry decides to take an American girl to the Spring Dance, his father justifies her interest in her son due his financial background. He says to Henry, “You real dummy, Henry. Don’t you know? You just free dance ticket. She just using you” (Pg. 74). This illustrates that Henry has been struggling to gain his father’s respect and approval in him but was never able to achieve that.
Family became an important aspect in Mah’s life. In the Chinese culture family is typically a vital part of the way of life. Mah may have been ashamed the way her first marriage ended and did not want the same with this man she met named Leon. Leon is a Chinese immigrant and family is his priority. Mah and Leon marry and have two girls, Ona and Nina. They form a family like connection more than ever before. Leon was a fairly stable man and loved his family. Mah and Leon were b...
Arriving at Lacey’s house I walk to the backdoor letting myself into the house. Lacey was putting on tanning lotion in the kitchen, “Lacey,” I called to her, “my mom wants me to pick up snacks for the beach, do you want to go into town with me?”, “Sure,” she replied, “do you mind if my cousin comes with us?”, “Of course I don’t mind,“ I answered, “but we have to get moving, my dad only left me the car to use ‘til noon.”
In conclusion, from the short story I believe that assumption, attitudes and the connection between Amy and her mother run through most of immigrant family in America. living your dreams is much better than living in someone’s dream, therefore, I believe that Amy was right in a certain way for fighting for her own dreams and hopes. However, Amy mother was trying to help her daughter to live the American dreams that she dreamt about. But at the same time she wanted to impact the Chinese culture to her
In 1955, the Ying family immigrated for the second time to the United States. This, again, was not easy considering the Uni...
When he arrived at the home the servant who took his hoarse and directed him to the room that Mr. Usher was in greeted him. Inside the house was also very ornate, but it to had also been left alone for to long. The entire house had a gloomy atmosphere that would put a chill down most people’s spines. When he entered the room his friend was staying in he was warmly welcomed. He could not believe the changes that his dear childhood friend had endured.
America was not everything the mothers had expected for their daughters. The mothers always wanted to give their daughters the feather to tell of their hardships, but they never could. They wanted to wait until the day that they could speak perfect American English. However, they never learned to speak their language, which prevented them from communicating with their daughters. All the mothers in The Joy Luck Club had so much hope for their daughters in America, but instead their lives ended up mirroring their mother’s life in China. All the relationships had many hardships because of miscommunication from their different cultures. As they grew older the children realized that their ...
After the fall of the Saigon in 1975, Heidi’s mother- Mrs. Mai Thi Kim decided to send her to America as fearing for her uncertain future in Vietnam. Twenty two years later years, Heidi eventually found her Vietnamese mother. However, as she was raised in the States, Heidi is now "101%" American and has little knowledge of her Vietnamese heritage. Undoubtedly, this reality reveals potentials for cultural collision.
Given our relatively short acquaintance, it startled me that I could read his face so transparently. But in the few months since Nancy and I had moved into our still unfinished house, Fred had become more than just a next door neighbor. Oh, we certainly had our differences. Fred was old enough to be my father, and our personalities were as far apart as our ages. He was always teasing, playing practical jokes, and smiling quizzically. I was quieter. Compared to Fred, one might say I was comatose. Yet we both seemed to know that we had something in common, something strong.
Right now, a buzz is going through the hall in which all the seniors are waiting and they look like bees swarming in the hall. It’s becoming hot and we’re all getting impatient. Amber is more composed and enjoying the good times in the present. She is standing there happy but sad to be dispersing from the rest of her classmates. Ann, the smartest one is having a little fun but not really. Her feelings are that of a person who realizes she’s going to miss what she had, but wanting to get the ceremony over with because it’s taking too long. Standing in that room we are together and enjoying one last real time capturing a picture with each other. Amber’s mom is so proud of her daughter that she keeps talking and smiling and trying to part of every MOMent. Amber is thinking to herself that she wishes her mom weren’t there but she’s ‘happy inside because someone is cooing over’ her. As Ann is standing beside Amber she keeps getting these expressions that say, she likes being with her friends but, ‘what is taking so long? Can’t we get out of these dang robes, yet?’