Daddy's girl. Momma's boy. I don't know about you, but I can honestly say that I'm a Daddy's boy and a Momma's boy. However, since we've been discussing "Shooting Dad" and "Arm Wrestling with My Father", I'll dedicate this one to Pops! :)
My dad is a pretty easygoing guy. He moved to Canada from Vietnam in 9th Grade. If I ever had to think about the American Dream, I'd think of my dad except he went on to fulfill the Canadian dream. Starting from nothing, he worked in bagel shops, graduated from the 20th best university in the world (University of Toronto), and is now living a successful life with a happy family. That's why he pushes me so hard in my academics. His mentality is "If he can do it, so can I!" I usually ask my dad if I ever want to do something fun like hang out or sleepover. He understands what it's like to have fun with other guys. But if there's a test or a lot of homework, no way José he would say yes! However, he's a fair person and he's been through high school and university, so he knows what it's like to deal with all this stress.
If I had to choose between physical or emotional, I would lean towards the physical relationship. My dad might ask me about the girls now and then, but that's a rare occasion. When I think of a physical relationship with my dad, I think of all the times we would go downstairs and play hockey in our makeshift hockey rink! My dad kept part of it unfinished so we could go and play hockey. Sometimes, I would win. Sometimes (and truthfully, most of the times), I would lose. When we played, we played to win. Other dads might have gone easy on their little boy, but not my dad! It was all or nothing. If you win, you win. If you lose, you lose. We would push and shove each other whenever the puck was near those brown cabinets as if they were the hockey rink's boards. Get slashed in the knee, and we'd still continue playing. Shoot the puck hard and hope it goes in! Our whole basement floor was covered in puck marks and hockey stick marks. Whenever I lost, I would cry and whine like a little baby. "It's not fair!" I would cry! I'd throw a tantrum and get mad at my dad, and my dad would just laugh and pretty much say "Sucks to suck!" Wow was I such a sore loser. Mind you though, this was when I was in my elementary and early middle school years!
Nowadays, I never have time to spend time with my family even though that's what I love to do. It always seems like I have some sort of homework or extracurricular activity. Other kids may be partying on a Friday night or on New Years Eve, but not me! I stay home with the ones I love most: my family.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
A Snapshot in History
It is a long cold lonely night
The water pulls them backwards
Yet they continue to push forwards.
The frigid bitter ice surrounds them
The swirling glacial waters clash on the boat
Its icy soul slapping against the wood
The constant rhythmic sound of the waves
Two white men
One black man
One woman
One Indian
Together they row
Heave! Ho! Heave! Ho!
Who would have thought
That these troops were to succeed?
Yet they continue to push forwards.
The sun shines through this ominous day
Piercing into the wispy sky of despair
Like a beacon of hope
For these straggled common soldiers.
The woman in a scarlet coat bleeding with grit
The black man dressed in all sorts of colors
The men's arms are cold and sore
Hours of continuous rowing
But they feel no pain
The man in the middle
The Hero of America
The Great General
He who carries the burden of America
He who leads to victory
He is George Washington
He sings for Freedom
Inch by inch, the shore creeps closer
His heart pounds
Louder and louder
Faster and faster
But no,
He must control himself
He is a man of no fear
Fear is futile.
His velvet cape flaps with the turbulent winds
The jaded handle of the sword,
A sword for only the elite
He is the one who will conquer.
He is not afraid to look into the eyes of Death himself
He has no time for petty doubts
It is he who must lead the charge
He who must carry his country to freedom.
Every man looks forward.
Forward
Never back
Never to the land of oppression
For they will succeed.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
We Are Who We Are
Amy Tan is the kind of author that connects with your deep thoughts that you think of at night, during those long English or Biology assignments at 3 in the morning and you wonder, "What exactly am I doing with my life?" "Who am I really?" "What is life?" In Amy Tan's Fish Cheeks, she questions her own identity and finds conflicting problems with her culture. However, it is her mom that helps her to come to terms with her own identity and accept herself as who she is. One message that I interpreted from Fish Cheeks is that family plays a great influence on one's identity.
My mother, for example, is the best mother in the world. She loves me like no other: without her, I would be long dead by now. (Same goes with my father too!) She cooks me delicious foods to eat at lunch, leaving my friends envious of my mother's loving meals (Kunal I hope you see this). Sometimes, however, she really pushes me to do things that she wants and not necessarily that I may want because she believes that it is best for my interests. Yet, she's also not like one of those tiger moms from Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. I guess she just cares for me so much that she wants to ensure that I don't choose the wrong path. For example, this morning, we had a discussion about my college future and my college choices. She urged me to go to University of Toronto even though University of Michigan is a much more suitable fit for me in terms of major, quality of education, and location. I think that this is part of Chinese culture, that is, to strongly care for your young and lead them down the right path.
When I look at my Western friends' parents, I feel like they have been brought up in a "do what you want and see for yourself" environment. For example, if an American kid got a B on their test (I'm talking middle school tests), parents would typically express disapproval but not a lot to make the child feel hurt. They would then blame the poor scoring on the teacher and the curriculum in general. However, if a Chinese child got a B (bless his/her soul), then he/she would get scolded because of his/her parents' higher standards for their child. Instead of blaming the school and its system, they would blame it on their child's lack of studying and practice. This is best exemplified from these statistics in Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, in which Chua demonstrates the differences in Western culture and Chinese culture.
"In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that “stressing academic success is not good for children” or that “parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun.” By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese mothers felt the same way. Instead, the vast majority of the Chinese mothers said that they believe their children can be “the best” students, that “academic achievement reflects successful parenting,” and that if children did not excel at school then there was a problem and parents were not doing their job (Chua)."
After reading Fish Cheeks and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, I realize that identity can be perceived through different lens. Amy Chua's daughters were viewed with delight in the eyes of her piano instructors, whereas others viewed her with horror when they hear of her rigorous daily schedule.These two stories of the differences between Western and Chinese culture have helped me reflect on my differences and come to accept them as it is.
My mother, for example, is the best mother in the world. She loves me like no other: without her, I would be long dead by now. (Same goes with my father too!) She cooks me delicious foods to eat at lunch, leaving my friends envious of my mother's loving meals (Kunal I hope you see this). Sometimes, however, she really pushes me to do things that she wants and not necessarily that I may want because she believes that it is best for my interests. Yet, she's also not like one of those tiger moms from Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. I guess she just cares for me so much that she wants to ensure that I don't choose the wrong path. For example, this morning, we had a discussion about my college future and my college choices. She urged me to go to University of Toronto even though University of Michigan is a much more suitable fit for me in terms of major, quality of education, and location. I think that this is part of Chinese culture, that is, to strongly care for your young and lead them down the right path.
When I look at my Western friends' parents, I feel like they have been brought up in a "do what you want and see for yourself" environment. For example, if an American kid got a B on their test (I'm talking middle school tests), parents would typically express disapproval but not a lot to make the child feel hurt. They would then blame the poor scoring on the teacher and the curriculum in general. However, if a Chinese child got a B (bless his/her soul), then he/she would get scolded because of his/her parents' higher standards for their child. Instead of blaming the school and its system, they would blame it on their child's lack of studying and practice. This is best exemplified from these statistics in Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, in which Chua demonstrates the differences in Western culture and Chinese culture.
"In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that “stressing academic success is not good for children” or that “parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun.” By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese mothers felt the same way. Instead, the vast majority of the Chinese mothers said that they believe their children can be “the best” students, that “academic achievement reflects successful parenting,” and that if children did not excel at school then there was a problem and parents were not doing their job (Chua)."
After reading Fish Cheeks and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, I realize that identity can be perceived through different lens. Amy Chua's daughters were viewed with delight in the eyes of her piano instructors, whereas others viewed her with horror when they hear of her rigorous daily schedule.These two stories of the differences between Western and Chinese culture have helped me reflect on my differences and come to accept them as it is.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
America is Black and White and Everything in Between
Today marks the first day of Black History Month. From the days of slavery, our current society has transformed black culture into one of respect and fairness. There is clearly much work to accomplish if we truly want full equality regardless of race. Whites encounter more opportunities compared to blacks; in addition, whites earn significantly greater than blacks do. The world we live in is not a perfect place, but we might as well try to strive to make it the best possibly can. To increase black awareness, it's important to learn from history's mistakes so that we don't make the same mistake in the future.
Morgan Freeman once said on 60 Minutes, "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." What he says is absolutely true; black history is and always will be an important piece of American history. The struggle for freedom and equality has been permanently etched into America and its past. However, I believe that it is essential to have a time for all of America to remember its history and reflect on its wrongdoings. Without a black history month, we lose an important highlight on one of America's proudest accomplishments: the eventual equality of races. However, the problem is that many still view black history as inferior to white history when they should be both fundamental and equal elements of American history.
Let me tell you a story. My cousin down in Texas told me that the school district refuses to call the third Monday of January MLK Day; rather, they simply call it a student holiday, thus taking away the impact of such a key figure in American history. However, not only did he revolutionize American society, but he also advocated for peaceful protesting to unite Americans, black and white alike, in a common goal to make the world better for the generations to come. By taking away this holiday, Texas demonstrates that they approve of white superiority over blacks in a country that supposedly advocates for equal opportunity and success. Obviously, it is extremely disturbing that Texas still lives in the past and refuses to view blacks on the same level as whites. Ultimately, we are all human beings, whether white or black or yellow or blue, and that's all that matters.
Morgan Freeman once said on 60 Minutes, "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." What he says is absolutely true; black history is and always will be an important piece of American history. The struggle for freedom and equality has been permanently etched into America and its past. However, I believe that it is essential to have a time for all of America to remember its history and reflect on its wrongdoings. Without a black history month, we lose an important highlight on one of America's proudest accomplishments: the eventual equality of races. However, the problem is that many still view black history as inferior to white history when they should be both fundamental and equal elements of American history.
Let me tell you a story. My cousin down in Texas told me that the school district refuses to call the third Monday of January MLK Day; rather, they simply call it a student holiday, thus taking away the impact of such a key figure in American history. However, not only did he revolutionize American society, but he also advocated for peaceful protesting to unite Americans, black and white alike, in a common goal to make the world better for the generations to come. By taking away this holiday, Texas demonstrates that they approve of white superiority over blacks in a country that supposedly advocates for equal opportunity and success. Obviously, it is extremely disturbing that Texas still lives in the past and refuses to view blacks on the same level as whites. Ultimately, we are all human beings, whether white or black or yellow or blue, and that's all that matters.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
The Black Man's Truth
The black race has endured racial injustice, prejudice, and oppression since the formation of the Thirteen Colonies in North America. From Texas to Mississippi to Alabama to Virginia, black slaves had to work inhumanely while carrying the traditions and culture of black civilization. In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," Langston Hughes refers to himself as the man who built the huts when Africa was just born, the man who bathed in the rivers of the earliest civilization, the man who built the African monument of the pyramids, and the man who witnessed Abraham Lincoln during his first visit to New Orleans. Obviously, Hughes has not lived for nearly 5000 years, but as a black man, he represents all of black civilization, black tradition, black history, and black culture. While individuals may change, the rivers never change as they witness all that the black man has witnessed from the beginning of life, which is best exemplified using the refrain, "I've known rivers." The black man knows the river just like how the river knows him and his past. This degree of verisimilitude creates a truthful, historical account of the black man's struggles and burdens. Using a chronological order, Hughes builds the poem up to the eventual freedom of the blacks when "its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset." While this poem is not perfectly truthful, Hughes' use of verisimilitude illustrates that the emotions that Hughes feels and carries reflect the emotions of his race from their early and recent histories.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
In Memory of My Loving Grandfather
On December 1st 2013, my grandfather, Tho Tran, passed away in his sleep at 3 AM in the morning. Yesterday was his funeral. He was strong, diligent, loving, caring, resilient, determined, compassionate, sympathetic, gracious, considerate. The list goes on and on, but not one word can describe my grandpa's complete character. Without a doubt, I can say that he was successful. However, he wasn't your typical example of successful; he didn't end up living in a mansion in East Egg with butlers to feed him. He had a dream to lead his family to live a happy and prosperous life, and he accomplished that goal. That is success. It's not about money or cars or mansions; it's about doing what is right and reaching that goal. Common themes between The Great Gatsby and "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" are the corruption in materialism, how much men and women worshiped wealth, and loss of fundamental moral values. If my grandfather was somehow placed in these stories, my grandfather would be the perfect foil for Tom and Daisy and the Washington family who represent these themes.
Let me tell you a little bit about him. He was born in China, but grew up in Vietnam. He was a farmer, a businessman, family general store owner, highest position at the local temple, and the elected principal for a public school, but in his heart, he was always a farmer. He was one with nature; although he left his farms in Vietnam, he created 2 new farms in my uncles' backyards when the family moved to Toronto! From melons to peas to lettuce to tomatoes to all kinds of herbs, he took care of each and every vegetable as if they were his own children.
As for his children (my mom, aunts, and uncles), he made sure that they all went to school and worked hard. He was the most generous man I had ever known. He would give out more than he could afford to give out to the community, temple, and family. Even though he was the youngest in his family, he was the one who kept everyone together as a family. If friends or family were in need, he would find a way to solve the situation. For example, during the Vietnam War, he hid his nephews that would otherwise be sent to war at his own expense. If they were found, my grandpa would surely have been sent to jail or even killed. This is one of his life lessons: Family is everything. Always put family first regardless of the situation.
Whereas the wealthy characters in Fitzgerald's novel were careless, uncaring people, that used others like disposable resources for their own advantage, my grandfather was a man with integrity and virtue that made life better for everyone around him. Whereas the wealthy characters only acted in self-interest, my father almost always put others in front of him. For him, life wasn't about achieving goals personally; it was about helping the community and ensuring his family's prosperity. Although his body is not with me today, his spirit will always be a part of me and will lead me through the good times and the rough times. He was a brave man who fought through his cancer for 2 years and never backed down even though the doctors said he had 6 months to live. Thank you for those unforgettable memories and life lessons.I know you are in a better place now, pain-free and happy. Rest in peace, Grandpa.
Let me tell you a little bit about him. He was born in China, but grew up in Vietnam. He was a farmer, a businessman, family general store owner, highest position at the local temple, and the elected principal for a public school, but in his heart, he was always a farmer. He was one with nature; although he left his farms in Vietnam, he created 2 new farms in my uncles' backyards when the family moved to Toronto! From melons to peas to lettuce to tomatoes to all kinds of herbs, he took care of each and every vegetable as if they were his own children.
As for his children (my mom, aunts, and uncles), he made sure that they all went to school and worked hard. He was the most generous man I had ever known. He would give out more than he could afford to give out to the community, temple, and family. Even though he was the youngest in his family, he was the one who kept everyone together as a family. If friends or family were in need, he would find a way to solve the situation. For example, during the Vietnam War, he hid his nephews that would otherwise be sent to war at his own expense. If they were found, my grandpa would surely have been sent to jail or even killed. This is one of his life lessons: Family is everything. Always put family first regardless of the situation.
Whereas the wealthy characters in Fitzgerald's novel were careless, uncaring people, that used others like disposable resources for their own advantage, my grandfather was a man with integrity and virtue that made life better for everyone around him. Whereas the wealthy characters only acted in self-interest, my father almost always put others in front of him. For him, life wasn't about achieving goals personally; it was about helping the community and ensuring his family's prosperity. Although his body is not with me today, his spirit will always be a part of me and will lead me through the good times and the rough times. He was a brave man who fought through his cancer for 2 years and never backed down even though the doctors said he had 6 months to live. Thank you for those unforgettable memories and life lessons.I know you are in a better place now, pain-free and happy. Rest in peace, Grandpa.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Welcome to the Show!
The Great Gatsby! What a misleading novel to read! All along, I had been thinking that Jay Gatsby was the perfect man, adored by all just as much as how Mrs. Clark adored Atticus from "To Kill a Mockingbird"!
The title of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel, "The Great Gatsby," sounds just like the great magician Harry Houdini's stage name, The Great Houdini! This clever title symbolizes Jay Gatsby's magical-like abilities to conceal his true identity as a weak and nervous individual. From his dirt-poor and hopeless character of James Gatz, he has transformed himself into the affluent and well-connected Jay Gatsby. He manipulates almost everyone into believing in his vast wealth, creating a mystical illusion in the New York community. He hosts extravagant parties like advertisements for all of New York to see his infinite wealth and even (attempts to) speak like an Englishman to assert his luxurious background. However, even though Gatsby claims to have good standing like an East Egg resident, he is actually a young, insecure man who finds his fortunes only through illegal activities like bootlegging alcohol. Mr. Carraway, the honest and tolerant narrator, later reveals that Gatsby continues to live in the past as he hosts all these parties to capture the attention of his former lover Daisy. "The Great Gatsby" is a legend and a theatrical performance, but also an allegory that teaches us that the path of greed and wealth are intertwined with the path of loneliness and suffering.
The title of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel, "The Great Gatsby," sounds just like the great magician Harry Houdini's stage name, The Great Houdini! This clever title symbolizes Jay Gatsby's magical-like abilities to conceal his true identity as a weak and nervous individual. From his dirt-poor and hopeless character of James Gatz, he has transformed himself into the affluent and well-connected Jay Gatsby. He manipulates almost everyone into believing in his vast wealth, creating a mystical illusion in the New York community. He hosts extravagant parties like advertisements for all of New York to see his infinite wealth and even (attempts to) speak like an Englishman to assert his luxurious background. However, even though Gatsby claims to have good standing like an East Egg resident, he is actually a young, insecure man who finds his fortunes only through illegal activities like bootlegging alcohol. Mr. Carraway, the honest and tolerant narrator, later reveals that Gatsby continues to live in the past as he hosts all these parties to capture the attention of his former lover Daisy. "The Great Gatsby" is a legend and a theatrical performance, but also an allegory that teaches us that the path of greed and wealth are intertwined with the path of loneliness and suffering.
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