A story of International student adjusting to life at US college

Gathering of Pearls is the book I'm recently reading. It is written by Korean-American writer Sook Nyul Choi. It's a story about international student's life in American college. Sookan is a Korean girl, she went to American college alone for study. And in the school, she was popular and get friends with Ella and Marci. This book is like a journal, it includes everything of her college life. This is a special and interesting for me. Because firstly in some ways, we have common experience and also it's a book easy for me to read.

Compare my life with Sookan, there are similarity and difference. When Sookan first came to America, she has language problems, this is also happened on me, on every international student. When she said answered Ella:"Yes, I don't like it." This sounds weirded for American girl Ella because in American way, it should be "No, I don't like it; or Yes, I like it." Just as Sookan said: "I was still thinking in Korean way. Everything seemed so different here-not only the language, but the way of thinking, too.” I can understand why Sookan said this. I also have this kind of experience. As a Chinese student, we have similar way of thinking, we have common point in Asian language. When I'm talking foreign student in English, I feel embarrassed and sorry when I made grammar mistake and confused them. And there's also culture difference. Sookan was taken aback by Marci's candidness because she showed that she didn't have a good relationship with her sister. Sookan thought she should obey her sister, although she didn't want to write letter. This is Korean culture, she can't refuse. If I'm Marci, I won't say how I had a bad relationship to friend who I first time meet with. Sookan chose many challenging course for her self because she didn't want to disappoint her families. This is real opinion. I decide by my self to study abroad, learn more things and improve myself. So I want to show that I can do this, I hope my families can be proud of me.

But in some ways, Sookan's experience is a bit different with mine. The background of Sookan's story is in 1950s. At that time, There were not as many international student as nowadays. Sookan was the only Korean student in school. She felt homesick and worried. And when she first got in the airport and found there was no body pick her up, she was anxious and full with fears. Her elder sister always talks with her like a parent and this makes Sookan have conflict with her sister and herself. But as time goes by, many things have changed. Because of better family and society conditions, nowadays many teenagers can solve problems in a calm way. They won't feel such desperate when they are in trouble. And in school, students can find more friends who are from same country so they won't feel such lonely. And in the family, elder sister or brother won't forced us to do something. Everyone is independent and has own opinion about the future.

Two thinking questions

How did Sookan feel when she lived in Ellen's home?

Why does Sookan's sister want Sookan to be then nun?

Gathering of pearls study guide 6-12

Chapter 6

1. Sookan's sister had made plan for Sookan, she think Sookan should work with her as a nun together, should write her letter and Sookan shouldn't be swept away by the America culture. But as Sookan arrived in America, she has know so many difference between Korean society and American society, friendship with Ellen and Marci also makes her realized she can express herself, became more open, should in charge of her own life. This is the conflict between Sookan's sister and her. Also, Sookan has internal conflict, she is struggling. She doesn't know if she should disobeyed her sister. Because in Korean culture, it's not right to let elder down. She felt guilty about this but still want to be a independent person. This is important to the novel, because conflict between her sister and her, internal sister are one of main parts of this book. It leads Sookan consider that what kind of person she will be.

Chapter 7 

1. Ellen thought the important thing to do is to check out the social scene.

2. On one hand, Ellen is a outgoing girl, she thinks Sookan should enjoy more social activities in college instead of doing too many extra works, to be like a diplomat. On the other hand, Ellen speaks openly and frankly, she has own opinion about the marriage, she know what kind of person she will be; this makes Sookan reconsider if she should be more open, independent and enjoy her college life, not follow her sister.

3. I think Sookan is right to listen to Ellen. Sookan is not a girl always obey the elder, for example: she insisted to study in America although her families didn't agree with. This means Sookan has own thought, she wants to be a independent girl. Then Sookan sister believes that being a nun is good, but this doesn't mean same thing to Sookan. Sookan will be a mature woman in the future, she should have right to decide what kind of person she will be.

Chapter 8

1. Sookan went to the little lounge next to the assembly hall to write the letter to her sister during the election, so she missed the afternoon attendances and got five demerits.

2. Yes, I think she made right decision. Because Sookan has too much study and works to do. If she didnt sneak out to write her sister letter. She won't have that much time any more. This will cause more conflict between her sister and her. Also her sister has wrote Sookan letter and said she hope to got letter from Sookan as soon as possible. To not make her sister so disappointed, Sookan has to sneak out and write a letter.

3. Sookan wrote about her babysitting job in professor's home and how she went on well with friends. And mainly said the difference between America culture and Korean culture she found. Such like: see men in the kitchen for cooking, the communication between different age groups is open, women are sociable and can express themselves. She felt American society is open, equal and individualistic than Korean.

4. I think her sister will be angry and disappointed when read the letter. Because she always hope Sookan can be a nun and do the work together. She thinks that's right thing to do. And she didnt want Sookan be swept away by the American culture. She believed that Sookan should maintain Korean culture, obey elders and do right things.

Chapter 9

1. Thanksgiving with Ellen's family is good for Sookan. Because Sookan found Americans show love to their parents in a more loving and lighthearted way. She got the gift of clipping and generous accomplishment from Ellen's mother. Also she had a good rest in Ellen's home.

Bad thing is that when Sookan saw Ellen's family, she became more homesick and miss her families a lot.

Chapter 10

1. Sookan's secret study spot is the bathtub in the shower room.

2. She felt stomachache and dizzy, at last fainted in the bath room.

3. Sister Reed told Sookan that she can go to Marci's house or be together with Marci and Ellen, but she can't take any books to Marci's.

Chapter 11

1. In Sookan's sister's letter, she showed the anger and disappoint to Sookan because she accept American culture with too much enthusiasm and she shouldn't lose Korean culture. In mother's letter, she felt proud with Sookan and let Sookan not be too stressed out. I think Sookan's sister always want  Sookan obey her plan and believes that being a nun is right thing to do in life. Sookan's mother has different view point, she can understand how Sookan struggling in new life. And let her enjoy more life, don't worry too much about home.

Chapter 12

1. Sookan cooked salad, sticky white rice and bulgogi-kind of marinated and grilled beef.

2. Marci baked brownies. Ellen brought a poinsettia, some cut flowers, red table cloth, napkins Christmas butter cookies, serving plates and phonograph.

3. Ellen, Kyle, Marci, the Bennetts, sister Reed and sister Casey.

4. The gathering is important for Sookan. Because this is the Christmas gift she made for everyone who takes care of her, encourages her, and helps her, include: Ellen, Kyle, Marci, the Bennett's. Sister reed and sister Casey. They make Sookan feel proud and happy in college. This Korean dinner represents Sookan's appreciation to those people.

gathering of pearls

Gathering of pearls

Chapter 1

1. Women in 50's always get married right out of high school or in college. Even many women went to the college just for finding a MRS degree--husband. Some women choose to learn more in college, but they were not taught mathematics and science. Women have to be a perfect mother and wife, this was the society standard at that time.

Chapter 2

1. pocket money: a small amount of money given to children by parent.

    Honorific: a form of words to show respect.

2. When Sookan went to buy something for the room with Ella, she knew color coordination is important for Ella. Because she always choose something matching; when she bought curtain, she found a set of bright pink curtains and maching accessories and also her outfits matched right down to her nail polish and earrings.

3. Pay for tuition, room and board.

4. Sookan had to work fifteen hours a week in the college dining hall, earn good grades in all her courses and meet the social, moral, and religious standards of the school to maintain the scholarship.

5. Pay separately.

6. Sookan is from poor family and she knew how hard her mom work to give her small amount of pocket money so she never buy anything expensive and see the price tag before buy. Ella is from wealthy family, so she choose her favorite maching color stuff without worrying a lot about the price. Sookan lives in Korea, as tradition, she always respect to elder people especially when talking, she uses honorific term; and paid for friends when they are drinking soda. Ella is an American girl, she is comfortable to talk with elder students without worrying about the age difference, and paid separately when the bill comes.

Chapter 3

1. She took world literature, world religions, Greek and Roman culture, and early European history in the first semester. The most difficult one is early European history.

2. Marci is a girl who lived in the single room across the hall from Sookan and Ella. She is tall and thin, and very pale with straight brown hair. She wore no makeup and her clothes hung loosely. Sookan thought she is pretty in boyish way. Marci is really shy and likes reading, she lives in a single room and seldom talk with others. She is not as outgoing as Ella, but she also wants to make friends. So she tried to talk with Sookan. And she is very nice, she knew Sookan may miss the lunch, so she buys the sandwich and waits for Sookan. Marci is candid, she directly tells Sookan she has bad relation with her sister. And she tries to protect her friends when she knew Sookan didn't have time writing letter to sister but had to do so.

3. Babysitting for professor Bennett's children.

4. Sookan respects and is proud of her sister. On one hand, she wants to obey her sister because the older sisters asked to do and in the Korean culture, what elder people in family said is as important as parents; on the other hand, she really doesn't have time to write and feel sorry about that.

Chapter 4

1.melancholy: depressed

2. Because from the letter Sookan can feel that after she left hom, her mother worried a lot about her and her mom think herself is a helpless mother and feel guilty because she sent Sookan so far and she was so poor that can't mail a little pocket to money to her daughter.

3. Sookan's mother is a warm, kind, independent and she never complained the hardship, loves her children. She doesn't impose children or talk of filial duty; although life is hard, she never complain and always help people who are less fortunate. She is kind woman, she can be nice to mailman.

Chapter 5

1. Yes, Sookan enjoys babysitting. Because she got on well with two children. She read the book for Sarah; Jimmy corrected her pronunciation honestly and enthusiastically, Sarah fixed her hair which made Sookan look like a cartoon character. They had a lot of fun together.

2. In America, man also cook or help serving meal at home. But in Korea, every works in the kitchen such like cooking, surving are wife's job, sometimes daughter will help, but neither the husband nor brother will do those works.

3. Yes, I will do extra things. Because I want to give the professor a nice impression for the first time working. I think why Sookan do those works is that she appreciate professor Bennett. In Korea, babysitting neighbor's children doesn't need to be paid; but in America, Sookan can get some money to afford the book by doing babysitting, especially this is not a hard work, she had fun with those children. So she felt thankful to professor Bennett and wanted to do more things for them.

letter to sister

Dear sister,

I'm Sookan, I've been arrived in the college last week. I'm sorry that I don't write you a letter in time because I have course load. I'm really busy on studying and doing the job everyday. Everything goes well there. Sister Casey is a nice professor, she helped me a lot on the first day. I was worried at the beginning, I was afraid of being different with other students, but now I found they like me, they like talking with me and I get on well with my rommate Ella and Marci. Don't worry about me. Always love you and mom.

Facts about Sook Nyul Choi

She is a Korean-American children's story book author.

She was born in North Korea, during the Korean War, she fled to South Korea.

She went to United States for higher education, and graduated from manhattanville college.

She lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She has two daughters.

She taught in the New York City public school.

Fairy tale of elegent princess

In the break I watched a film called Grace of Monaco. This is a French-American biography film about Grace Kelly. Nicole Kidman played the role of Grace in the film. In 1956, Hollywood star Grace Kelly got oscars and then married with Monaco's Prince Rainier III. During the six years life in Monaco, Grace still can't adapt the new royal life well. She felt upset to her new role-princess. In 1962, a six-months dispute between Prince Rainier and French president Charles de Gaulle occurred as well as Grace considered if she should return to Hollywood or to be a real princess to balance the relationship between Monaco and French. This movie is about conflict and how Grace choose.

Grace is a independent woman and has thought. She directly show her opinion about the politic crisis In front of the French president, this causes a even worse result. She remembered Ranier love her, because she speaks out what she thinks, that's may help her to be a outstanding actress, but not for princess. When she tried to rise money and support the Red Cross society, nobody stand on her side. The royalty life is not like what Grace imagined. She couldn't  do anything in Monaco and felt pain and lonely about this life. It uses many emotion expression in the film. Nicole Kidman did it well. A impression scene for me is that when Grace called her mom, the most closed person, her mom, even can't understand her. Grace felt desperate about her life and marriage. On one hand she tried to take responsibility for the royalty but on the other hand, she wanted to be back to Hollywood. Finally, when Grace decided to take responsibility for Monaco, but this movies became more like a fairy tale. 

Grace learned French, walked on the street and talked with people; joined in the social meeting; help Ranier to find the traitor in royal family. Everything suddenly goes well just like what happend in the fairy tale. After all in the fairy tale, politics can be such easy. In fact, about this this movie both of French government and Monaco royal family has declare the story In movie is not the truth. According to the historical facts in that period of time, "First Lady diplomacy" is obviously a faked story. 

Grace said her life is a fairy tale. It exactly is. She got success like what in the fairy tale, she has marriage with European prince, she also has the ending like a legend. I think it's not such important if she is a outstanding diplomat in the reality like she was described in the movie; for the people who doesn't know much about European history, this movie has been enough perfect.