connections pg 175

"I have found a family for you!" the man tells us excitedly a week later. "They have some small children and an old grandmother. They need someone to help with the children and around the house and they are anticipatation to meet my new family.

This part of the book reminds me of a book I read when I was a child named Ruby Holler. There was two kids that that were in a foster home and they had many families that took care of them. Everytime there was a new family that was going to adopt them they always said "I found a new family that would like to adopt you." These two kids have been to many families and everything and they don't know who their real parents are unlike the children in this book.

connections pg 23

After many hours, we are finally out of the city and on the road, though still moving very slowly.
"Where are we going?" I ask Kim repeatedly, after it seems like we have been travling forever.

This part of the book reminds me about hurricane Katrina when it hit New Orleans and everyone having to evacuate. Traffic moving slowly and no one being able to leave.

Loung's hate

Quickly I turn and walk away, but the smell of death still clings to my cloth. "He was a Khmer Rogue soldier. He deserved to die, too bad they are not all dead," I say venmently to Pithy.

The passage showed how hate Loung had towards the Khmer Rogue that ruined her life, when Loung is actually a very compassionate person towards living things as she was towards the dead bird her mother killed. It showed how much Loung changed as a person throughtout the book.

Kim Decision

"Ma, we are starving to death. Many people are dying in the village. Yet the government trades our crops to buy guns ti kill more people." Shh... don't talk so loud. It is a crime to speak against the Angkar. If the soldiers hear you they will you away and kill you." "Ma, I am going to go and get us some corn tonight ." With a determined look, Kim has made his decision.

This passage shows the bravery of Kim and how much he cares about his family by going out there to find food for his family in a tough and dangerous situation. It made me wonder what will happen to kim as he goes out there to find food for his family. what are your predictions?

Caught bird

Loung's brother Kim caught a small bird and brings it home to his mom for her to cook it for dinner. The following passage showed a inside of Loung's feeling and thoughts about animals and living things, also shows a more compassionate side of Loung. "Tonight we will have a good dinner," Ma announces, smiling and finally letting go of the bird. Though dead and drained of blood, its body shakes violently in the dirt. "Poor bird," I whimper, reaching over to softly pet its feathers.

Loung feels so bad for the bird since she is still petting it as it dies, which shows how much she cares for a living thing.

"Waiting station"

In the chapter waiting station Loung Ung is woken up by her mother, and she is confused and scared to why her mother woke her up in the middle of the night. It made think whats going on too, something must be happening that Loung's family is in a hurry to move out of Krang Troup as quickly as possible. "why do we have to go, pa?" "it is no longer safe for us to stay here." "Are we walking a long way?" "No, your uncle talked the chief intoo arranging for us to be picked up by a khmer rouge truck. The truck will take us to Battambang. That is where your grandmother lives. This passage showed how eager Loung's family is to leave, and that something big is goin on.

The streets of Phnom Penh

As I read the first page of the book, i noticed how descriptive the author was towards the setting of Phnom Penh and the people that live there. "Already at 6 a.m people in Phnom Penh are rushing and bumping into each other on dusty, narrow side streets. Waiters and waitresses in black and white uniforms swing open shop doors as the aroma of noodle soup greets waiting customers". This following passage showed how the streets of Phnom penh is on daily day and how the people there start off their day with work. It gives a good Description about Phnom Penh.

Is Loung Ung a Feminist?

Am I the only one that thinks that Loung Ung is a little feminist? I think that through the whole book, she is pushing equal rights for the woman of Cambodia. Which is defiantly, in this book, something that they are far from having. This really did change things in the book, her whole family would of been treated the same as other family's were. Here experiences really changed I think because of her gender. But getting back to her being a feminist, I personally do believe that she is.

Do you think that she is a feminist? And how do you think her experiences changed because of her gender?

Cambodia Culture - Chinese Culture

So while reading the book, and after reading Victoria's posts, I have really noticed the similarities between Chinese culture and Cambodia culture. Now I knew going into reading this book, that India and China had heavily influenced Cambodia culture, but I really did not know how heavy. After reading this book, I really can now see that Chinese and Cambodia culture is almost parallel. If anything, there are a few differences. I guess that this influence is just like Chinese food on America, only on a much larger scale.

Did you know anything about how close these two cultures are before reading the book? Or were you very surprised like I was?

Death = Better reading?

I just realized something very interesting. We as the reader knew about Loung's father's death long before she did. (Well at least at that time.) I think that this really changed the way that I read the book. I knew that when ever Loung referenced her father before she knew he was dead, I knew he was dead. Kinda like inside information. I really did feel a little sad when ever she did this, I can only imagine what it's like not knowing that your father is dead. And having to find out later on when this whole time you thought he was alive.

Did you read the book differently knowing that he was dead?

Loung - Strong?

So it's really no surprise to me that Loung would see herself as a strong person. I think that a lot of people in the book saw themselves as strong to. This lead them to the solider training camp. I feel that they really did have to see themselves as strong people, other wise, I think that they would of not survived the camp. This now brings up a few good questions to mind:

1. What did they need to do to survive?
2. What qualities does here gentle sister have to have for her to be saved?

These to me are really what drives my thinking about the book, let alone what it really means to survive? What are you own personal answers to these questions?

connections pg 99-100

"I hope she won't be reincarnated here," I say quietly. Chou reaches out for my hand and holds it gently as she wipes her eyes with her sleeve. I think about what Chou has just told me. I imagine Keav sleeping peacefully some where. On the third night she wakes up only to realize that she is dead. It saddens me to think of her pain upon finding out she cannot return home. I imagine Keav in heaven, watching over us, fially happy again. I picture her the way she looked before the war, and wearing a white gown and washing in the river. I see her the way she looked in Phnom Penh, not the wat Ma described her.

I can relate to this book because a few years ago someone in my family passed away and was in the hospital. The day he passed was sad and we were all trying to remember all the good memories we shared with him from when we were little. Also I can relate this book to "Lovely Bones" because in the book a little girl is murdered by her neighbor and her parents have no clue what happened to her. So they were in panic waiting for her to come home and everything. The girl describes what her heaven was like and how it was so nice.

new words found in chapters 14-18

vividly-strikingly bright or intense, as color, light, etc
scorching-burning; very hot.
famished-
to suffer or cause to suffer extreme hunger; starve
merely-only as specified and nothing more; simply
indomitable-that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable
plunges-to cast or thrust forcibly or suddenly into something, as a liquid, a penetrable substance, a place, etc.;

connection pg 79 - 80

In Cambodia, New Year's is our biggest and most important holiday. For three days, stores, restaurants, businesses are closed. There is nothing to do but enjoy the food and festivities. Everyday there are parties at friends at friends' houses. At these gatherings, the host serves roast pig, duck, beef,sweet cakes, and beautiful candies. The part I liked best was when the parents took the children around to their friends. Children are not given presents during this holiday. Instead, we are given money- brand-new crisp bills in decorated red paper pouches.

This part of the book kind of relates to me because on Chinese New year I go visit my family and we give each other a red envelope wit money. There is no gifts given to each other. Family and friends usually gather together and eat. Chinese New year last for 15 days. On Chinese New year the tray of candy is known as " the tray of togetherness," which the trays are usually round or shaped like and octagon. The candies that are in the "tray of togetherness" are Candied melon(growth and good health), Red melon seed( dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness, truth, and sincerity), Lychee nut( strong family relationships), Cumquat( prosperity[gold]), Coconut(togetherness), Peanuts(long life), Longnan(many good sons), and a Lotus see(many children.) Mainly my Chinese New years is spending time with my family and having dinners.

new words found in chapters 9-13

scurry-to go or move quickly or in haste
tantrums-a violent demonstration of rage or frustration; a sudden burst of ill temper.
sulk-to remain silent or hold oneself aloof in a sullen, ill-humored, or offended mood
fixate-to fix; make stable or stationary.
moonbeams-ray of moonlight.
whimpers-to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds
cringes-to shrink, bend, or crouch, esp. in fear or servility; cower.
daggers-a short, swordlike weapon with a pointed blade and a handle, used for stabbing.
calluses-a hardened or thickened part of the skin; a callosity
clenched-to close (the hands, teeth, etc.) tightly.
shrivel-to contract and wrinkle, as from great heat, cold, or dryness.
twat- outcome

new words found in chapters 7 and 8

disperse-to drive or send off in various directions; scatter
innate-existing in one from birth; inborn; native
brutality-the quality of being brutal; cruelty; savagery.
enduring-patient; long-suffering
clambering-of or pertaining to plants that creep or climb like vines, but without benefit of tendrils.
devour-to swallow or eat up hungrily, voraciously, or ravenously.
engulfed-to swallow up in or as in a gulf; submerge
discreet-judicious in one's conduct or speech, esp. with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.
agonizing-accompanied by, filled with, or resulting in agony or distress
grieve-to feel grief or great sorrow

new words found in chapters 5 and 6

enforcer-the member of a group, esp. of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.
timid-lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery; easily alarmed; timorous; shy.
heinous-hateful; odious; abominable; totally reprehensible
lotus-a plant believed to be a jujube or elm, referred to in Greek legend as yielding a fruit that induced a state of dreamy and contented forgetfulness in those who ate it.
communal-used or shared in common by everyone in a group
dissipates-to scatter in various directions; disperse; dispel
crude-in a raw or unprepared state; unrefined or natural
dysentery- Pathology. an infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels, with diarrhea that becomes mucous and hemorrhagic.

chapters 3 and 4 of new words found

grunt-to utter the deep, guttural sound characteristic of a hog
whimpers-to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds.
probe-to search into or examine thoroughly; question closely
burrows-a hole or tunnel in the ground made by a rabbit, fox, or similar animal for habitation and refuge.
pangs-a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing
comrade-a person who shares in one's activities, occupation, etc.; companion, associate, or friend.
gnaw-to bite or chew on, esp. persistently.

fist 2 chapters of new words

cyclo-
a three-wheeled pedaled or motorized taxi in southeast Asia; rickshaw.

slender-having a circumference that is small in proportion to the height or length

cleaver-a heavy, broad-bladed knife or long-bladed hatchet, esp. one used by butchers for cutting meat into joints or pieces.
perch-any place or object, as a sill, fence, branch, or twig, for a bird, animal, or person to alight or rest upon.
keav-chinese food with thick sauce
obedient-obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority
depicts-to represent by or as if by painting; portray; delineate

Connections pg 6

At five I also know I am a pretty child, for I have heard adults say to Ma so many times how ugly I am. "Isn't she ugly?" her friends would say to her. " What black shinny hair, look at her brown, smooth skin!. That heart-shaped face makes one want to reach out and pinch those dimpled apple cheeks. Look at those full lips and her smile! Ugly!"
"Don't tell me I am ugly!" I would scream at them and they would laugh
That was before Ma explained to me that in Cambodia people don't outright compliment a child. They don't want to call attention to the child. It is believed that evil spirits easily get jealous when they hear a child being complimented, and they may come and take away the child to the other world.

This part of the book reminds me of the Chinese superstitions that my parents had told me about when I was little. The superstition was about a devil coming to murder us. If we are 1 years old as soon as we are born nothing happened to us but, if they said we were not 1 years old the day we are born a devil comes and murders us.

Thoughts on voice.

OK, well it seams very obvious to me that this story is written using the voice of a child. This seamed very interesting to me because I wanted to know why Loung Ung decided to write the book in this voice, and not in a voice of her grown up looking back at the events. I defiantly feel that using this voice really adds personal feeling to the book. This voice allows you to see her problem the exact same way that she originally saw it. I feel that if it had been written any other way. Than it would change the whole feel of the book. What are your thoughts? Do you think that if Loung Ung had written it in a different voice, you would of read and thought of the book differently? Or would you read and think of the book the same as you did?

Meeting the group!

Here is the list of everybody roles in our First They Killed My Father:

• Discussion Director: Marc


• Connector: Victoria


• Illuminator: Josue


• Word Watcher: Ante

And that's the group!