Welcome!

   Welcome to the MORE Program's book blog.  This year we will be reading the University's One Campus, One Book selection by Lisa See, titled Shanghai Girls.  As we read the novel, we will encounter various themes and topics which will allow us to reflect upon both the past and our own personal backgrounds.  You will be asked to write about some of these themes discussed within the novel in order to more fully internalize such concepts.  Some of the concepts you will be asked to comment on include, but are not limited to, parent-child relationships, diverse cultural expectations, gender roles, the importance of diversity, the effects of war upon morality, and the issues presented by wealth inequality.

                             
       
           

Blog #1

Listed below are three discussion questions based off of your reading of the first portion of the book (Fate), pages 1-85.  Respond to one of the three discussion questions expressing your thoughts and opinions on the matter.  Your response should be a minimum of 500 to 750 words.

1. In what ways are Pearl and May limited by the traditional expectations placed upon them as daughters in Chinese culture?  Why do their parents allow them to ignore many of the cultural expectations that Chinese girls would normally comply with?  How do many of the cultural and social expectations of today's society limit you and those with whom you associate?

2. In the book, Pearl and May experience a transformation from living relatively carefree lives to struggling in poverty and having to fight for their lives.  How do they cope with these changes brought upon by their father's debt and the war?  Have you had to overcome any obstacles in your own life?  Compare the way in which you coped with these experiences to the manner in which Pearl and May cope with their challenges.

3. Pearl and May grow up in a higher level socio-economic class and as a result become desensitized to the poverty present in their city, justifying it as the way in which their society is constructed.  However, when their father gambles away their money they are no longer able to avoid the problems and difficulties associated with poverty, because they now face those once-distant obstacles head on.  How do their attitudes towards poverty change after their own descent into a life without wealth?  Contrast the adaptations and growth they exhibit in response to this obstacle with the reactions and personal development that many of us experience as a result of a similar life without wealth, brought upon us by the financial strains of college.

Blog #2

1. Towards the beginning of the novel, Z.G. talks about ai kuo, the love one has for country, and ai jen, the emotion you feel for the person you love.  How do these two types of love play out in Pearl's experience in both China and the United States?  How do these two types of love play out in our own lives, contrasted with Pearl's unique circumstances involving these types of love?

2. According to the zodiac signs in Chinese culture, Pearl is a dragon and May is a sheep.  Based on the descriptions of these signs contained within the novel, do you think the two sisters are true to their respective zodiac signs in Shanghai Girls?  Up to this point in your life, do you think that you have been true to your own Chinese zodiac sign?  Here is a link to a website which contains more information about the zodiac signs: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/

3. There are sections within Shanghai Girls where it seems like external factors conspire against Pearl--being sold into marriage, leaving China, being stuck working at the restaurant, mothering May's child, and taking care of Vern.  How much of what happens to Pearl is a product of her own choices and decisions and how much is a product of external factors over which she has no control?  How many of the problems in our own lives are brought upon us by our own decisions and attitudes rather than outside forces?

Blog 2 Question 2

 2. According to the zodiac signs in Chinese culture, Pearl is a dragon and May is a sheep.  Based on the descriptions of these signs contained within the novel, do you think the two sisters are true to their respective zodiac signs in Shanghai Girls?  Up to this point in your life, do you think that you have been true to your own Chinese zodiac sign?  Here is a link to a website which contains more information about the zodiac signs: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/

The Dragon is said to be the most vital and powerful beast in the Chinese zodiac. Their character traits are to take control while showing dominance and ambition. They have been gifted with intelligence, confidence, and courage. The dragon is not afraid to take challenges and risks, which is a characteristic that Pearl definitely has. Pearl has been courageous all her life mostly because she is the eldest and is more independent. She is also book smart and always alert, which allows her to understand her surroundings. The risk Pearl took to not only stay on the Island with May for months while pretending to be pregnant and then mothering May’s child was a very courageous act on her behalf. Mothering a child that is not hers meanwhile May is allowed to openly travel around in china town without any obligations because nobody knows that May gave birth to a child. Pearl stays at home cooking meals and cleaning the house because she is a daughter in law, a wife, and a mother. The sheep is said to be

May is a sheep which according to the Chinese zodiac people born in a year of the sheep are believed to be gentle, shy, stable, sympathetic, amicable, and kindheartedness and justice. May is not necessarily shy, or have much of a kind heart, in my perspective. May is witty and gets her way most of the time. I also think May prefers to be the center of attention which is contradictory to what the sheep is supposed to symbolize. One thing that May does portray for sure is the fact that she enjoys spending money on fashionable clothing.

The Chinese zodiac states that I was born in the year of the monkey which states that the monkey is witty, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. I can state that I have a personality which allows me to be curious while finding ways to learn new things every day. I am ambitious and always look forward to becoming a better person than I was yesterday. I also have a playful personality which I believe is essential for having unforgettable moments with close friends and family. I do enjoy pursuing my education as I look forward to becoming a successful individual.  

Fate?

Several external factors certainly greatly impacted Pearl’s life. Her being sold off by her father, a war involving China, and a horrible married life superficially appear to dictate her life. I believe that these incidents may appear fated, but ultimately they are a result of Pearl’s decisions and her resilience as these problems arise. When Pearl first learns about her arranged marriage she angrily disagrees with her father and vows to not marry her future husband. She remains vigilant in not going through the marriage including destroying her paperwork needed to go to the United States. As the war erupts in Shanghai and her father’s gambling addiction causes more problems, she decides to flee. This was a conscious decision to leave China. She decides to go to the United States and reunite with her husband because it seemed like the most logical choice. Despite seeking out her husband, she still had a plan to try to leave after acquiring enough funds. Their journey did not go as planned, this forced May to make many difficult decisions. When they are attacked by the gang she protects her sister and gives up her bourgeois trappings to go to the United States. When she learns of her sisters pregnancy May begs her to take the child as her own. This was an act which would protect her sister as well as secure a child for herself. When they arrive to the United States they are faced with very poor living conditions and many of their personal freedoms are restricted as a result. This was the most overt external factor that aimed to dictate Pearls life. Despite the situation, she makes a clear choice to stay and slowly gain more personal freedom and acquire some money. As she learns more about the family she decides to stay. When Joy grows up the family is struck with news that Sam is being investigated. This factor causes strife within the family, we learn that May was indeed the one who orchestrated the whole situation. The conflict reveals to Joy the true nature of her birth and life. When Joy flees to China to seek comfort in her father and homeland Pearl goes after her. This demonstrates her ultimate decision in accepting Joy as her daughter. Despite the many obstacles placed to Pearl by the war and her family, she developed a close relationship with Joy. Although the external forces pressured Pearl, ultimately they only shaped the way Pearl chose to live her life. In our lives we face similar forces that may limit or expand her choices. These incidents, however do not dictate how one lives. Even within one day of our lives we are faced with many choices that can have a dramatic impact in our future circumstances. We can choose to adhere to the schedule or plan for the day or forgo the plan and do something spontaneously. Either of our choices could have similar consequences or dramatically reshape our lives. You can meet new people by simply adhering to your daily life or trying something new. In addition by choosing either of the situations we lose the opportunity cost of whatever other activity we could choose to do.

Blog #2 Question#2

Many Chinese people have the traditional custom to look to their zodiac sign for advice and guidance, this belief is really expressed in Shanghai Girls. Throughout the novel May and Pearl are compared with their respective zodiac signs, the sheep and the dragon. The sheep is said to be a complacent, content, feminine, fashionable, artistic and compassionate; she must be taken care of and thinks only of herself and comfort. The dragon has a striving desire that cannot be filled, she is loyal, demanding and responsible. The character’s embodied their zodiac signs when they lived in Shanghai, but I believe their roles switched when they went to America.

In Shanghai, May was never denied anything she wanted, as a result she grew up a spoiled child and threw fits whenever things didn’t go her way. She was able to live a comfortable glamourous lifestyle, being able to afford to dress up fashionably to model and socialize with artists and revolutionists whenever she wanted. She was carefree and let her parents and Pearl take care of her, however when she moved to America she could no longer afford to stay a sheep. Pregnant and scared she adopted some of the dragons strong attributes, she was able to take a lot of responsibility on when she tended to her sister’s aid after her rape, she concocted the white mask for them to camouflage and she split their money between them when they were on the boat, she even thought of a clever way to stay in the interrogational angel island until the end of her pregnancy to keep her baby, sister and herself alive and living. When they were transported to live with Uncle Louie she was able to create a job for herself in the movies because she had the desire to be portrayed as glamourous and she achieved her own goals but her own merits, she didn’t wait for someone else to take care of her but instead strove for opportunities to push her career further.

In Shanghai, Pearl was the responsible, loyal older sister that listened to her parents and took care of May. She strove to get an education and demanded more out of life, breaking away from her traditional mother and into a modernized Chinese woman. Pearl lead a comfortable life up to this point, however when the sisters were hurled into America, Pearl took big hits to her mentality of life. She was weighed down with the death of her mother, abandonment of her father, torments of rape, stressed for her baby, and left with fears for the outside world of her little apartment. She let herself become a sheep, being taken care of by Sam and the rest of the family and became ignorant to the world around her only concerning herself with the housework. She became introverted and reverted to old traditional stories and Chinese thinking because it was comforting for her to act like her mother. Pearl displays these sheep like qualities because she longs for china, once she accepts she’s Americanized she could move forward and make an effort to create a life around her, but she still lives in fear because she isn’t a citizen.

 According to the Chinese zodiac I’m a rooster, I am said to be an observant, hardworking, resourceful, courageous and talented individual that’s very confident in herself. I think this is fairly true I’m very hardworking, resourceful and observant, however I lack the confidence, and I definitely don’t like being the center of attention. I think I am fairly true to my sign thus far, I do get a little agitated if I speak and others don’t listen especially if it’s one of my siblings.

Blog #2 question #2

2. According to the zodiac signs in Chinese culture, Pearl is a dragon and May is a sheep.  Based on the descriptions of these signs contained within the novel, do you think the two sisters are true to their respective zodiac signs in Shanghai Girls?  Up to this point in your life, do you think that you have been true to your own Chinese zodiac sign?  Here is a link to a website which contains more information about the zodiac signs: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/

Throughout the novel, Shanghai Girls, Pearl and May are constantly reminded of their Chinese zodiac signs to further stereotype them.  Pearl is a destiny-changing dragon while May is a naïve, sweet-hearted sheep.  Toward the beginning of the novel, both characters displayed characteristics of their respective signs, but as the book progressed, their personalities changed drastically as they now have faced life-changing events.  Even though their characters changed, I believe both girls still remained true to their signs, but where slightly changed from all the chaos that the war brought them.

            Pearl was told by her mother to take care of her younger sister no matter what the cost.  Pearl held on to this last wish of her mother’s and dedicated herself for the protection of May.  When they moved to Los Angeles, Pearl was made into a stay-at-home housewife while May was allowed to venture out and live a life similar to that of postwar Shanghai.  This fact made Pearl upset and envious of her sister because she had freedoms Pearl was not granted.  Pearl managed to accept these changes though, and showed the type of resilience that only a dragon sign can exhibit. Perhaps the words of her dying mother really influenced her selfless behavior with regards to May.  May on the other hand, continued on living a similar lifestyle to the one she had in Shanghai, except, she did not have her sister to accompany her everywhere she went.  She even had hopes of becoming a movie star in Los Angeles, which exemplified how unchanged she remained by still constantly obsessing with attention and glamor.

            Up to this point in my life I definitely feel I have lived up the name of my Chinese zodiac sign, the horse.  Horses are extremely energetic and sociable beings that love to be recognized and approved by all.   Horses are also believed to be very healthy because they hold a positive attitude towards life.  Also, we are rational, sentimental, and straightforward and are best suited for careers in which we are own boss.  People born on this Chinese zodiac sign typically have a pleasant, amiable, down-to-earth disposition, which can provide stress relief for others.  Lastly, horses are quick-witted and can perceived the thoughts of people before they express them.  Ultimately though, I believe that zodiac signs do not offer anything better than a brief piece of literature to read for amusement.

            Overall, Pearl and May definitely kept true to their Chinese zodiac signs though where stricken by trauma from the events that occurred in Shanghai.  Even though they displayed different personas later in the book, they were still the same individuals just perhaps altered from the war and death of their mother.  In the end, I am not one to really believe in zodiac signs. I ultimately prefer the mental freedom that comes from removing all stereotypes attached to everything in life.  Even though the Chinese zodiac is pretty accurate, I am a constantly changing being and am never tied down to just one belief.

Blog #2 question #3

Blog #2 question #3

Pearl has had a lot of external factors pushing her life in different directions. The only stable period for her was when she was in her father’s home living a carefree life. Once she was sold into marriage her freedom was taken from her far before she reached Los Angeles. In escaping Shanghai Pearl, May and their mother where tossed into a movie like action scene. The part in the book where she has to find May laid out after the bomb explosion or the encounter with the Japanese soldiers are both tremendous external factors. She was pressured to do the husband and wife thing with her arranged marriage partner, despite having the choice the pressure to go with the flow was enormous.  The visitor from the Green Gang comes to their home and threatened them, setting them on a course to flee the country. Her body was changed forever when Pearl and her mother were raped by the Japanese soldiers. Upon finding out that May is with child the only way for them to utilize the Louie name to escape the refugee camp was to take Mays child. She could have let her sister deal with the consequences, but she has taken care of May her entire life. Since she has cared for May in this manner for so long to take the child is more of a reflex than a choice especially with reference to the predicament that they are in.  Once in Los Angeles she is thrust into a complete submissive roll for a while to Old man Louie. She thinks that as an American citizen he can have her sent back to Shanghai for noncompliance. She is forced to work in a café or were every Old man Louie wants her for that day. Pearl is forced to learn to be a mother by shadowing here mother-in-law and helping her with the care for the house and Vern.

It is funny how things change because after she runs into her American friend’s dad while working in the restaurant she has a choice. Her friend’s dad invites Pearl and her sister to come to stay with them and the choice is hers to make. She has begun to gain more freedom in the household. Doing things such as choosing to cook family dinners on Sundays. May and her child are acting and she is building a relationship with her, and Pearl has begun to create relationship with her arranged marriage partner. She chooses to stay within the Louie home when she could have left. Eventually she chooses to do the husband and wife thing but is still force to keep the secret of her infertility.

I often feel that outside forces interfere with my life far too much. If everything in my life is balanced at some point something will remove that balance that I try to maintain and it is always an outside source. I don’t think that anyone with a sense of responsibility will put themselves in danger like an external force. This is the adventure that we call life. The forces of our actions affecting others. Like I said earlier we will not purposely put ourselves in danger but the repercussions of our action may have negative effects on others. 

Blog 2 Question 2 Answer

2. According to the zodiac signs in Chinese culture, Pearl is a dragon and May is a sheep.  Based on the descriptions of these signs contained within the novel, do you think the two sisters are true to their respective zodiac signs in Shanghai Girls?  Up to this point in your life, do you think that you have been true to your own Chinese zodiac sign?  Here is a link to a website which contains more information about the zodiac signs: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/

Throughout the book, Pearl always seemed to be the tougher one. The one who could really withstand pressure, hard work, suffering, heartbreak, and even traumatic situations. She was always looking after her sister in a very protective manner, and was willing to suffer even more in order to take any more possible suffering from her sister, who became her only family, along with Joy. Although there were many difficult obstacles, she was always brave and persevered through the worst situations imaginable, keeping up her confidence that she was going to be able to succeed and get to her main goal. Because of these factors, I believe that Pearl was very true to her Chinese zodiac sign, and that she reflected well the personality and characteristics expected from a Dragon.

On the other hand, May started out by being the favorite daughter, the one that always got everything she wanted just by being her usual sweet self. She had nothing to worry about, and life seemed to be easy and fun. With the war, the arrival of the Japanese, and their unexpected arranged marriage, her and her sister’s world turned upside down. There was no time to even think things through, but only time to act. After her Pearl almost died after being raped by many Japanese soldiers, May had to toughen up and take care of her sister. The roles were inverted. Pearl, who had always taken care of May, now needed her sister’s help to overcome a very traumatic episode of her life. May did not let her down, and used all her strength to keep them both alive. I believe that was the time that May actually became mature, and showed her true personality. She was confident, strong, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for both her and her sister.

The Chinese zodiac sign of a sheep has the following characteristics: gentle, calm, shy, stable, strong sense of justice, strong creativity and perseverance, strong inner resilience and excellent defensive instincts, like to spend money on fashionable things giving them a first class appearance, etc. May is a sheep in the Chinese zodiac sign, and I believe she is very true to the characteristics of her sign. She showed an inner strength that I did not expect from her, judging her personality by the characteristics of the first part of the book. She definitely shows she is more than able to care for herself, without the need of her sister’s motherly protection. She always seemed to be fragile, and defenseless, but when things got difficult, she was great at defending herself, and her sister, showing she is able to protect those she loves. She also showed a strong inner resilience since the time when the sisters were trying to flee China.  In this way, she appeared to be true to her Chinese zodiac sign, just like Pearl.

Being half Chinese, I was already aware of my Zodiac sign, which is a Dragon. Although I did not grow up in a traditional Chinese culture, I was told about the characteristics of this zodiac sign. I always found myself well connected with it, and that most characteristics expected from this zodiac sign matched well with my personality. I believe I am someone with a lot of courage to reach my goals, which makes me feel confident with myself. I am a very ambitious person, who likes to have everything under control. I usually welcome challenges, because I feel that that is the only way of evolving and becoming better. I also tend be short tempered and become irritated easily. Everything described about my personality is expected from a Dragon; therefore I am very true to my zodiac sign.