My reaction to Barna's text

I enjoyed reading Barna’s text because it was convincing and understandable in general. Especially, the part Preconceptions and Stereotypes was interesting for me. In my experience, I had a stereotype that Islamic women were oppressed and didn’t have freedom so much. This image was created by a linkage between information of radical Islam such as Taliban and Islamic women. However, I realized my preconception was completely wrong when I went to Qatar which was a devout Islamic country. I met a young girl who was wearing a black veil that I thought was a symbol of oppressed women. She said to me that being Muslim was very meaningful and happy for her. I was shocked to know that Islamic women were proud to follow the strict rules of the Koran. From this experience, my personal view toward the Islam has changed. My vision was actually widened through international communication. As Barna mentions in conclusion, I agree that international communication competence is the capacity to manage key challenging features of intercultural communication. I think the importance of this competence has increased in the globalized world.

Summer Reading Reaction The Joy Luck Club

I read The joy luck club which is written by Amy Tan.

This novel is the story about four immigrant women from china and their four daughters who are born in America. I knew that Amy Tan reflected her own experience as a Chinese American on this novel. I was interested in how the Chinese American got through difficulties when they moved to America. I also felt an interest in relationship between mothers and daughters. That’s why I chose to read this book.

In this novel, there are four pairs of mother and daughter. Firstly, there are Suyuan Woo who established the joy luck club for playing a mah-jongg and her daughter, Jing-mei Woo who works as a copywriter. Secondly, there are An-mei Hsu and her daughter, Rose Hsu Jordan who is a graphic artist. Thirdly, there are Lindo Jong and her daughter, Waverly Jong who is very good at playing chess. Finally, there are Ying-ying St.Clair and her daughter, Lena St.Clair who feels Chinese spirit. Each woman tells her own story of their childhood or lives in America.

Main theme of this novel is the relationship between mothers and daughters. There are conflicts and reconciliation of them. They have difficulties understanding each other fully. What makes it so difficult? Mothers who managed to make their own way in America want daughters to have both aspects of Chinese and American. They expect a lot of things of their daughters. At first, daughters reject to accept Chinese traditions and resist to their mothers. For young daughters, old Chinese customs seem strange. As they know about her mothers’ childhood more deeply, however, daughters see the similarities on them and feel closer to their mothers.

In my experience, I didn’t have a clear rebellious period. Yet, I remember I sometimes cried when I felt my mother didn’t understand me at all. I think mothers often care about daughters too much. It makes it complicated to understand each other.

Especially, I like the part that Jing-mei met her mother’s twins finally. I like the words of Jing-mei that “It is my family. It is in our blood. After all these years, it can finally be let go.” When I read this part, I think Jing-mei was released from perplex feeling against her mother.

In conclusion, this novel made me reconsider what the ideal relationship between mother and daughter is.

What I want to get from ARW Autumn

I especially want to improve my writing skill this autumn. This is because I noticed that my writing skill was lower than other skills this summer. I'll do my best on writing academic essay. I'm sure I can learn a lot from the process of writing academic essay. I want to find a good topic which is interesting and meaningful. 

Summer Vacation 2011

I went to Australia as SEA program for six weeks this summer. It was the first time for me to study abroad. I went to Monash university which was located in Melbourne. Monash university is  famous for the strong debating club. I was very interested in the debating team because I was a member of ICU debating society. I learned about not only English but also the diversity of cultures during this six weeks. This experience became unforgettable for me.