Raphael Kim > Recent Status Updates

Page 6 of the book shows that in Planet Panga there is no cricket. Cricket is a symbol of good luck but it also could be seen as a wealth. Becky Chambers purposely removed cricket from the book. Dex said it would be better if there was some cricket. I think that shows Dex misses past wealth when all the robots are doing the work for people. And from this the author tries to show we can’t take anything for granted.

Changez lost a part of him when he heard about Erica’s death. Erica was one of the most important characters in this book. She looked at Changez differently than others just assuming that Changez doesn’t belong in the USA but at the same time Erica liked Changez because he is just like her old boyfriend Chris. Changez really leaned on Erica after 9/11 happened because she was the only person who looked inside of him.

Throughout the reading I was wondering about Changez acting to fit in with Prinston and Underwood Sampson. Earlier in the story Changez talked about why he is on the trip with the eating club. On the trip his presence was an exotic acquaintance. I think that situation made him try to fit more into the American community. Because he didn’t want to be seen as a man who is from different society and have culture.

After 9/11 happened Changez decided to not shave his beard when people felt uncomfortable to be near him. I think that he didn’t shave his beard because he felt betrayed by people near him, like Jim told him to shave his beard. I think that let Changez to accept who he really is. Because before he was like a bat, stuck in middle American or Pakistan. So I think that he will return to his real home, Pakistan soon.

I was impressed by the author because he shows two extremely different situations based on money. He made me imagine how good Changez's treatment was in the airport when he was riding first class with a good suit on. But on the other hand when he landed in Pakistan, he was in a taxi but many people that were watching him were pretty upset about him. So it made me wonder what makes people behave in similar situations.

When Changez couldn’t pay for the food when he was in the Pakistan restaurant I was surprised because I didn’t know American Express couldn't pay for a lot of restaurants. Changez thinks American Express is equal to power and he thinks power is the most important thing in life. But I think that the author tries to show us that power is not everything in life, and that using the American Express can’t even buy food.

I had two thoughts about why Changez was smiling after 9/11 happened. He was not happy that people were dead or injured he was happy because America got attacked. My first thought about why Changez was smiling was he was happy because deep inside of him he had jealousy. Because his country Pakistan was a great old day but not now. My second thought was he might think that this could be the turning point of the power.

I think the author named the main character Changez because I think throughout the story he will change. At the beginning of the story he talks about how he chose inside rather than outside, quality over the first look. But when he talked about his college story even though he was working at 3 different jobs, he wore fancy clothes which referred to more care outside than inside. So he can fit into their community.

The Changez’s interview with Jim was pretty impressive for me and can compare with my experience. Beginning of the interview Changez highlighted his grades, but Jim said that people interviewed here had same grade as him. Jim himself had that great grade. But Jim wants to know who can make the most money for his company. This shows me that in the real world I need skills that only I can do best, not just good grades.

I was curious about who is Changez when I was reading the book. Because he was in Pakistan and decided to talk to an American who he never met. Also Changez was sure he was American by just looking at his bearing. He went to Princeton and he told the American he never had B when he went there. So I was wondering that why he came to Pakistan even though he was exceeding the expectation.

The book taught me that avoiding the problem I create could help in the short run but it won’t help me in the long run. But it will make the situation worse. For example, when Frank killed himself he couldn’t take the pressure any more. And Frank’s decisions made Frank end up like that. I learned from that first I have to right things but if I made bad decisions I should take responsibility not avoiding.

I didn’t expect that Wesley would arrest Frank. Because earlier in the book Wesley told his wife that Frank told him he won’t do it again. I thought that Wesley didn't want to arrest Frank. But at the same time I had a feeling that wasn't right because he is a lawyer and sheriff. The jobs that law should come first. But still I didn’t expect that Wesley would arrest Frank since Frank is his brother.

On page 72, David’s innocence ends when he kills the magpie with his grandfather’s pistol. I think the magpie symbolizes David’s innocence. Magpies have two colors black and white like David’s old belief in life, just right and wrong. When the bird falls slowly, it shows a slow loss of David himself. The moment reveals that there are no more David who thinks there are only two answers. He knows the gray zone in life.

I was shocked when Marie died on page 77. Because the book tells me that she was getting better. And I felt sad and angry at the same time when I read “Those words were the last words Marie spoke to me.” On page 77, I was sad because Marie died and how David described his thoughts and I was angry because I feel like Uncle Frank killed her. Also I think soon Wesley is going to find out that Frank killed Marie.

I agreed with David’s thought on page 61. When David’s dad tried to talk with his grandfather about Uncle Frank. He thought if Wesley told grandfather that Uncle Frank touched Indian girls in an inappropriate way. Grandfather will figure everything and Uncle Frank will not do that again because grandfather told him to do it. I predict that Wesley won’t speak about Uncle Frank’s bad behavior.

I was sure that the author was using the same strategy for Ollie Young Bear. Because the author wrote about how Ollie Young Bear is a war hero, he gets the most respect, and he graduated from Montana State University. Also he was the star pitcher on the Elks’ fast pitch softball team. And he is an Indian but he married a white wife. I predict that he will have some bad habits or some weakness about him.

This book tries to tell about how the people are treated differently by their race and where they are from. It tells how people treat white and native people differently in Montana. Why people try to divide people in the past and even these days?I think it is because humans want to have more power than others and be higher than them. It is easy to make some people rank lower than others even though they are the same.

I felt a strong connection with David when he talked about only child legacy. Since I am an only child too. I really agreed with David's statement. He said “I did not often demand my parents’ attention because I knew I could have it whenever I wanted it.” When I want my parent’s attention it is really easy to have their focus on me. But I don’t know why people think that middle children get the least attention?

The prologue really grabbed my attention. It gave three memories of David but not with the many details. I guess that Watson wrote three separate memories of David because there are 3 parts of the book. Watson wrote how David's parents died and how the mom and dad’s death was different. The book hooked me with powerful force when I was reading that part. Why did mom have a peaceful death but dad had a terrible death?