Angela's Ashes - Extra Credit

You’re walking down the street. Everyone who walks by says “Hey Yank,” as though just because you’re an American means you like to be only considered it. You get to school, and the teacher asks you a question. Unfortunately you don’t know the answer, he just replies, “That’s ‘cuz you’re a Yank.” Whatever you do that’s all you’ll be known as: the Yank. In Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt that’s what Frank had to live with everyday growing up in Limerick Ireland in the nineteen twenties. Irishmen discriminated against other cultures to create a class structure impossible to break.
Frank McCourt grew in a world where no religion was accepted but Catholic. None other was worthy of God’s time nor love, for instance the Protestants. “I feel sorry for the beautiful Protestant girls, they’re doomed. That’s what the priest tells us. Outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation. Outside the Catholic Church there is nothing but doom.”(172) Here he notices how the priests, who he should be looking up to, are discriminating against different cultures. They even teach the young easily persuaded kids to believe this too. Earlier in the book this is brought up again while standing in line for food coupons. People nicknamed soupers, are turned away because their ancestors ate soup from the Protestants during the Great Famine instead of starving to death. “It’s a terrible thing to be a souper because you’re doomed forever in the souper part of hell.” (133) This shows how no matter what these families were to do their fates can’t be changed, how the stereotypes set up are unchangeable.
The Jesuit’s unchangeable stereotype is a bit different. According to page 272 and 244 the Jesuits wear fancy uniforms, fresh haircuts, and a cocky presence. Their houses have warm fire places, food in the cupboard, and money in their pockets. Even at ten years old the Catholics and Jesuits don’t get along because of where they come from, something kids shouldn’t be worried about. Unfortunately both parties know this won’t change because the class structure is so hard to break. “We know they’re the ones who will go to university, take over the family business, run the government, and run the world. We’ll be the messenger boys on bicycles who deliver their groceries or we’ll go to England to work on building sites. Our sisters will mind their children and scrub their floors unless they go off to England too. We know that. We’re ashamed…” Here Frank sees how the class structure built up by earlier generations isn’t going to change easily. How maybe it will never change. How his fate is decided for him just by his family.
His family feels this discrimination too. His father, Malachy McCourt Is from Northern Ireland a land Limerick thinks isn’t worth a job in town. He comes to the interview in a suit, yet when the men hear his Northern accent they always take a Limerick-born citizen instead. Even if he is the most qualified man, most hard-working they don’t care. But don’t feel too bad for him. His wife suggested he hid is accent, to sound more like a southerner. “He says, he’ll never sink that low and the greatest sorrow of his life is that his sons are now afflicted with the Limerick accent.” This discrimination is thrown back and forth between the two sides of Ireland even though it’s a couple hundred miles. This is a vicious never ending cycle.
Many people would say this never ending discrimination occurred everywhere in the nineteen twenties. I disagree. When Frank McCourt lived in America before Ireland he had a neighbor Freddie Leibowitz who was Jewish. Besides the religion difference there are many small things, like Freddie’s father is called Papa instead of Frank’s Dad. When they went to their house Mrs. Leibowitz made food like Challah (what Frank called twisted bread) and soup, foods new to the Irish Americans. Frank tried to say Challah but Mrs. Leibowitz just shook her head, “Oy, you Irish. You’ll live forever but you’ll never say Challah like a Chew.” This shows how her accent is different and how different the foods are. Still once Frank’s younger sister, Margaret dies Mrs. Leibowitz is ready with her Challah, soup and diapers to watch over the kids while the dad drinks and Frank’s mother is depressed in her bed. This shows how in America even the most opposite of people still help each other out.
Seventeen years of age Frank McCourt did it. He was no longer the Yank, but he was Frank who made it out of Limerick Ireland and back to America where he belonged. Back to neighbors who didn’t care what religion he had, what accent he had, or how he pronounced Challah. He was away from it all. He was away from the Irishmen who discriminated against other cultures creating that awful class structure. Finally, someone had beaten the structure.

Mothers Day

Moms work so hard for us so next Saturday is Mothers day just for them. Although I think we have enough holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, the Fourth of July ect.) every year my entire mom’s side of the family gets together for brunch. Each year it’s a different restaurant from the Coney Island by the golf course, to the upscale Matter of Taste. After or before brunch my cousins, Kyle and Evan, my sister Holly and I run through the restaurant causing all kinds of chaos. One year we were eating at a golf course. We went out back to watch the rain fall over the green. We couldn’t stop there. So we dared each other to run out of the safe porch to get wet. Each time we went a little bit farther getting a little bit wetter. Finally we had made it across the green, completely drenched. Although our moms weren’t too happy with us, it was fun.
It is not only Mothers Day that my cousins and I create havoc. At a family get together (twenty people in all) we went to an Italian restaurant. This restaurant was unordinary because you must walk through the kitchen to get to your table. Once sitting the four of us were restless. We began bugging our parents about when the food will come. They finally told us to get up and walk around. So we went to the kitchen to watch the chefs cook. We were getting in all the waiters way so one waiter, Bill asked us if we wanted to be waiters and waitresses too. “Yes!” Four small voices boomed. He gave me, the oldest a pizza to carry, Kyle and Evan a salad to share, and the youngest, Holly a few plates. All night we went around like that. We even delivered a cake to a large table and got to sing happy birthday! It was my first and best job we ever had.
The next time we were at this same Italian restaurant we stood again in the kitchen waiting to be asked to be waiters again. Unfortunately no such offer arose, yet still we managed to anger at least someone. A man walked in the kitchen, and was forced to step around the four children lounging on the floor. “What is this place? Chuckie Cheese?” The man bellowed.
Evan was quick to answer, “Really, Chuckie Cheese? I thought this was Burger King!” The man gave Evan a nasty look but quickly exited the kitchen quick enough to not hear the sounds of our laughter.
I love my cousins and our families get together. I am really excited for this Saturday. I just hope this Mother’s Day will live up to its past, or maybe even exceed it.

My SIMUN Experience

That Wednesday I walked into third hour like I do every day, but that day was different. For one, I was wearing a skirt something completely unusual for me, all the desks were in a large oval, but most noticeable of all I was completely nervous. This was all because of SIMUN. Three days during Global Education when students receive a country and debate topics as if they are in the United Nations.
The first day I kept wondering if I had done enough research. Now, I think I should have done more to see what my country, Indonesia, had done about the terrorists involved in the Bali Attack, something I had only briefly covered. I was thankful to know about the Dutch colonization and other historical facts I had learned. I was confused about what allies Indonesia had though, because they traded with all the major countries, from China to the United States. I did see they were a democratic republic and disliked most forms of communism.
During that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I learned a lot. Not only did my speaking skills improve but I became more confident on answering questions in front of people, which had previously been my biggest fear during SIMUN. I realized it is difficult to ask questions too, not just answer. I wish I could have thought of a good question to ask to a speaker. On the downside I felt I didn’t talk enough and wish I would have participated more.
One thing I will always remember about SIMUN is on the final day we are in caucus and Germany receives a private announcement. I go over to ask him what it is, and instead he replies that he can’t tell me, but it’s about Indonesia. I’m completely nervous by the time it’s Germany turn on the speakers list to tell everyone that an Indonesian terrorist group assassinated the South African President. Everyone turns to look at me, and I looked completely shocked. I get added to the speakers list immediately, but unfortunately we vote before it was my turn.
Next year in SIMUN I’m going to make sure I research as much as I can, because you can never know too much. I will also speak up more and ask more questions. I would also like to help write more resolutions and come up with the ideas for resolutions.
Once you get into SIMUN it’s really fun. It was really great once you got onto a good topic. I am really excited for years to come. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll be a real United Nations delegate.

SIMUN - America, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Nuclear Weapons

In my Global Education course we do something called SIMUN where each pupil receives a country to stand for in the United Nations. This is an example. My country is Indonesia and I will be discussing how Indonesia would feel about if terrorist groups became in a larger threat to Pakistan’s safety and the United States occupied Pakistan to secure the nuclear weapons from terrorist groups.
Indonesia has a problem with terrorism. In 2002 there was a major attack where a night club in Bali was bombed; most call this the Bali attack. At first Indonesia denied it had any connections to Middle Eastern terrorist groups, but now they are saying it is a definite possibility. Since 2002 Indonesia has taken control over the situations putting dozens of terrorists behind bars. There hasn’t been a major attack since. I found all this and more about Indonesia’s terrorism problem at www.cfr.org.
Because of Indonesia’s success with fighting terrorism without larger, more powerful countries involvement this Southern Asian country would be fighting with Pakistan to get the United States back out If Indonesia could handle the situation then so could Pakistan. Indonesia also has nuclear weapons which were untouched by terrorist parties during the bombing in Bali. Granted, Pakistan’s government is less stable, but they can ask for help from the United States when it is needed and when it would be most appreciated. It is unfair to the U.S. to have no faith in the smaller countries, and think nothing can be resolved without them. No country can be rebuilt and survive if another country does it all for them.
If the Taliban were to get their hands on nuclear weapons this would no longer be a threat to national security, but to world security and Indonesia feels only then is it appropriate for America to send aide to Pakistan to take back control without Pakistan’s consent.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Imagine living a life where you never have extra money, your shoes have holes, the movie cinema is the best treat in the world and to find coal for the fire you have to find it on the street. This and more was a huge culture shock compared to America in the book Angela’s Ashes, things we take for granted like shoes, movies and warmth they have to work for and find the best joy in receiving. In the beginning of Frank McCourt’s book he moved from America to Ireland, because of this people blamed much of their ignorance of religion on the fact they were “Yanks.” When in the United States he rarely talked of religion at all (except for holidays) but once in Ireland he discusses Church, Saints, church schooling, and the holy sacraments he performs (confession, communion, and confirmation.) As they call the McCourts the “Yanks” anyone else different is pointed out. Like Mr. McCourt is from Northern Ireland and he can never find a job because employers would rather give the job to one of its own people. In contrast in America the only reason he couldn’t get a job was because he was an alcoholic. Everyone in the town is Catholic. Everyone. You are just assumed Catholic, so far there hasn’t been mention of a non-Catholic in Ireland. In New York there was a family of Jews living down the hall. This contrast shows how America really is a melting pot while Ireland is much more closed to immigrants.

Florida

Usually when I write these blogs I’m sitting on my couch with my laptop, or sitting at a desk with my family’s dell, or even at the kitchen table eating and writing; this is not one of those blogs, because today I am on my way to Sarasota Florida for Spring Break. Every year since I can remember I have gone down to this tropical paradise for about ten days to visit my Grandparents in their condo. At the condo my sister and I have a room to ourselves and my parents are right down the hall. My grandparents sleep on the other side of the apartment. When people ask about what the home is like everyone is immediately surprised to hear one fact: an alligator lives in the backyard. This scaly creature doesn’t hurt anyone, but then again no one has ever messed with him. Usually he just sits all day in the sun and at night he bathes in the large pond. On days where we relax all morning –most days- we sit on the screened in porch and watch him. After a little bit it’s quite boring for he never moves, and if he does it’s slower than a sloth. In this tropical palace we also swim at the neighborhood pool for hours and hours never getting bored. My sister and I make up games to keep ourselves occupied while my parents soak up the sun. This year we have a little more planned.
Every couple years we travel to Orlando to visit the parks and I am happy to announce this is one of those years. We are going to Orlando for the second half of the vacation to meet my cousins, Kyle and Evan. Together we are going to stay (in my opinion) at the best hotel in all of Orlando, the Marriot Vista. I’ve stayed there before and there is anything to do from swimming in cool pools, to basketball, you can even rent a paddle boat! After a few glorious days in the sun here we are going to the best (again only in my opinion) water park ever; Aquatica. At Aquatica there are numerous slides, and a lazy river. It is big enough to be exciting but small enough my sister, cousins and I can walk around on our own. I am overly excited for this trip and my only hope is that it doesn’t go by too quickly!

Ice Show

After twenty days of non-stop practice the curtains open, the music starts, and the performance of the year begins. What in the world could be this magical? This amazing? This exciting? Only one thing. The biannual Eddie Edgar Ice Show.
For someone who has never been gifted with the opportunity of seeing, nor is participating in the ice show it simply is a skating recital; a recital that has lights swarming the ice, a full audience and endless smiles, off and on the stage. The entire month of March is devoted to the event and on March twenty-seventh it is paid off with two shows.
To explain the entire process of this epic event let me start at the beginning. Every other October a letter is sent to the skaters participating in the event. This letter tells you which small group you are in. Depending on age and skating abilities the group could be a solo to a six-some. Because it is the juniors and seniors last show they usually have a solo. This year I received a four-some with three of my best friends; Carly, Alyssa, and Erica.
Nothing happens for three months. This is when we get our practice schedules. This day is incredibly exciting. It is a lot like schedule time here at school, all the girls bunch together in groups to see if there friends have practice at the same time as them. There is a lot of screaming and hugging. You also see what large group you are in, these consist of about fifteen people. I love these big groups because usually all of my friends are in mine.
One day about a month later we all come to regular skating practice to find dresses. Even more exciting than schedule time we see our costumes for the first time. Immediately we try them on and take pictures with them. Sparkles, sequins and compliments fly through the air as the anticipation rises.
Then twenty-three days before the show we have pictures. Each group has a fifteen minute time in a room in the rink where a photographer sets up camp. Unfortunately, usually the times of the groups are spread out resulting in many trips to the rink in a day without actually skating. Although it’s incredibly fun, like a big game of dress-up.
Then twenty days before the big day practice begins. For the next twenty days you are at the ice rink every day. Girls are in the dressing rooms doing anything from homework to cards to coloring to videogames. Although for most of the time we are sitting around during dress rehearsals waiting for our time to shine no one says it’s boring. Maybe that’s part of the greatness of the ice show, you get to spend so much time together, meet new people, and save everlasting friendships.
Then suddenly twenty days passes you buy and you wake up to realize today’s the day you have been waiting for. The day you always dream of. You hop out of bed and come straight to the rink. Pounds of make-up is pounded to your face. Tons of hair-spray sprayed in your hair. Dresses thrown around like balloons floating every which way. Then the lights turn on, cameras get ready and the music begins. When you first get on the ice you see your family in the audience there is no better feeling. When you see the friends that come to watch you feel a pang of joy that is indescribable. They all came to see you. A sudden confidence rises to the top where the biggest smile anyone could ever imagine spreads across your face. The routine begins and something whether adrenaline or just plain joy creates the best performance of a life time.
In way too short of a time the day is over. For the next week you find yourself wandering the house wondering what you should be doing, when you realize nothing. After the ice show your days are empty. Then when you begin to actually relax on the time off summer skating begins which is quickly followed by competition season and the cycle begins again.