Study Guide 6-12

Gathering of Pearls Study Guide: Chapters 6-12

Chapter 6
1. Reflect on the letter that Sookan receives from her sister. Describe the conflict between the two women. Also discuss the internal conflict (with herself) that Sookan has. Why is this important to the novel and to Sookan’s identity?
Sookan has her own busy schedule but her sister wants she to write her a journal about her life in America which takes pretty much time to do. Because of this Sookan had inner conflict that was between as a student and a sister. This is kinda showing culture in Korea so it is important in this book.

Chapter 7
1. What does Ellen think is important in college (and in life)?

She thinks enjoying life is important.
2. How does her friendship with Ellen make Sookan reconsider her future?

Ellen tells her own perspective about life which is pretty convincing and Sookan is kinda affected at it and she starts thinking about her future.

3. Do you think that Sookan is right to listen to Ellen or should she follow the model of her sister instead?
In my opinion, she should listen to Ellen. I think it is important too. And as Ellen said, she can do everything she wants after she gets married.

Chapter 8
1. Why does Sookan get in trouble and receive demerits in Ch. 8?

Because she missed afternoon attendance.
2. Do you think she made the right decision in sneaking out?

I think she made the right decision. Keeping touch with family is necessary.

3. What is the letter that she writes about?

It was about the things that she was amazed about after she came over to US.

4. How do you think her sister will react to this letter?

Probably her sister will be satisfied with it. She wanted to know about how Sookan is living, and Sookan gave her what she wanted to know.

Chapter 9
1. Thanksgiving with Ellen’s family is both good and bad for Sookan. Why? Give at least two reasons for each.

She had fun time with Ellen’s family and by putting hanbok on to Ellen, she could show what’s Korean traditional clothes. Also she got the nice and thoughtful present from Mrs. Lloyd. On the other hand, she started to worry about her sister because Sookan thought she disappointed her sister. She also was embarrassed because she made Mrs. Lloyd worried about her.

Chapter 10
1. What is Sookan’s secret study spot?
Bathtub in the corner of the shower room that is at the end of the hallway and the lights were kept on all night.

2. What happened to her while she was studying for her final exam?
She fainted because of exhaustion.

3. What are Sister Reed’s instructions for Sookan over winter break?
Sister Reed let Sookan leave to Marci's house for winter vacation and maybe Ellen, Marci, and Sookan could get together under one condition which was not to take any book with her and when she returns, discuss about her schedule.

Chapter 11
1. Compare the two letters from home: how is the one from her mother different from the one from her sister? What does this show about these two women and their different viewpoints about life and about Sookan?

The letter from her mother was worried and caring about Sookan. Her mother was missing her and gave Sookan some news of family. However her sister’s letter had strict and strong message and advice. Her sister focused on being the only Korean in school and Sookan’s life.

Chapter 12
1. What food does Sookan prepare for her guests?
She made bulgogi, salad, and white rice which are typical Korean food.

2. What do Marci and Ellen add to the celebration?
Marci helped Sookan to prepare for dinner and made the brownies. And Ellen brought the Christmas butter cookies and set the table.

3. Who joins them?
Marci, Ellen, Kyle, Sister Casey, Sister Reed, and Bennett's family joined.

4. Why do you think this gathering is so important to Sookan?

That was the great opportunity to thank them for being a good people around her.

Questions

1. How do you think about her refusion at class officer election?

2. Does she have to be that hardworking student? 

Letter to Sister

Dear my sister

Hello my sister, this is Sookan.
I want to say sorry first about the journal you asked for me.
And I know you are little bit dissapointed with me.
However, I've been really busy these days so I had no chance to start it yet.
Of course, I will write and sent it to you when my schedule gets looser.
I want to join in your rewarding and worthy work.
I hope you to understand me.

Love you always,
Sookan

There Is Always Exception

There were so many Korean movies that I wanted to watch, however because I stayed in New York, I had no chance to watch those. Instead, I watched really interesting non-Korean movies. And I'm going to write a brief review about one of them.

The movie that is chosen to be written called "Minority Report" directed by Steven Spielberg who is super famous movie director and producer of a lot of blockbuster movies. Among his pieces, this movie is SF movie which is his best part and that is why I watched this movie. I am not a big fan of SF movie but actually this movie was really interesting and fun to watch. It is not only technically well made that has a lot of things to watch but also quite instructive.

The story occurs in such a far future from now, 2054 in Washington DC. At that time, there is the system called "Pre-Crime" which is used for foreseeing a future homicide so that they can prevent it before it happens. Thanks to that system, Washington DC gets zero percent on crime rate. And the protagonist whose name is John (Tom Cruise), is working as a cop who is in charge of arresting criminal based on the fact from pre-crime system. One day, John's name is predicted as a criminal, and he becomes a fugitive. While he tries to run away, he finds some outrageous facts. 


Visually, handsome actor Tom Cruise is a featured actor in this movie, and that makes us feel refreshed. However, the most interesting fact is, although this movie was released in 2002, it shows very refined and polished scene style. The computer graphic of this movie is perfect. For example, there are flying cars and laser computer that is hard to give body  with the technique on 2002, but it is almost like real that even made me check again when did this movie come out. Also throughout the whole movie, the screen is whitish, and little bit unclearly bright. It is hard to explain, but because of those  characteristics, the overall atmosphere of the movie is somewhat depressed and down. You can definitely feel it if you watch that movie. I thought it was a problem on my computer at first. 

Usually many other SF movies are focusing on showing a developed technique so they fail to convey important message, but this movie was different. In this movie, there is a line "You can choose". The characters in this movie already know the future, thus they can change their future if they want. Life is full of choices, even now, I could have not done this review and had fun with my friends or myself. Like this, my life is made by me and it is all up to me. Whether the choice is right or wrong, I have to take charge of it and be responsible. It may sound cruel, but I have to. At this point, I want to say one thing to myself. "Don't make any regret."

This movie was really interesting to me. It didn't feel like old movie that was released more than 10 years ago and also brought me huge lesson. Therefore I want to recommend this movie to others. Except for someone who is not patient because this movie is about 150 minutes long.  

Facts About Sook Nyul Choi

She was born in North Korea in 1937 and moved to South Korea in 1947.
She studied English in Ewha Woman's University and moved to U.S and went to Manhattanville.
And she became a teacher, then moved to Massachusettes and became a writer.
Her books are about the culture in Korea.
Her daughter is pretty famous in Korea.

What an Amazing Guy

Frozen In Time, written by Mark Kurlansky,  is a book that our English class started to read from this Tuesday. This book was especially hard to me comparing with other books that we had read in class. I think it is because this book doesn't have a specific story line as it is non-fiction. This book is a biography of a person, Clarence Birdseye who later changed his first name as Bob, and shows other inventors and achievements at that time. 

Mark Kurlansky 

Clarence Birdseye (1886-1956) was born in Brooklyn, NY which is also known as the place where my sister lives in now, and he had such a many careers. He was a inventor, entrepreneur, and the founder of frozen food industry, however he was seeking for adventures in his life other than those careers like hunting, cooking, and showed his love to nature. It is ironic that he did work as hunter and naturalist at the same time by the way.

An interesting thing that I found from him was he didn't finish college, which is the common characteristic can be found from the successful entrepreneurs for centuries like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. He was the student of Amherst University in Massachusetts but because of the lack of money, he dropped out of there. It is so sad that money which is made by human could ruin human's life. Well, in this case, he was not ruined, and rather he tried to do as many things as he wanted such as those careers I said above. I was so impressed that he has the same motto with me. In this short life, I think we need to do whatever we want and give a try like Birdseye. I don't know if he wanted to keep studying at college or not, consequently he dropped out of college for whatever reason and even though he was very young at that time, he adventurously sought for his interests. His courage and sense of challenge were really impressed for me. I would definitely do what he did, and because of those things, he could be millionaire and become successful I think. 

Clarence Birdseye

His well-known career began in Labrador which was one of the most remote and undeveloped corners of the world. He was invited to spend 6 weeks in bitterly cold weather of Labrador. And there, he had decided to do a business inspired from Grenfell's fox farming story, and he put into action immediately. He got investment from Hammond and the fur company had begun. He also became interested in food industry in Labrador. He inspired by freshness of fish in there so he kept contemplating about it and found out fast freezing. During those processes, I really liked the way he got inspired and carried out right away even though the condition there was extremely poor. I think I would like to do what he did but I couldn't do like him. He had amazing adaptation skill and wide sight. I wish I would have that too. 
He is one of the most challenging people I have ever seen and I want to take some of his nice characteristics.  

Vocabulary of Chapter 4,5 of the book "Frozen In Time"

Chapter 4

dreaded (pg. 29) : to fear something that will or might happen
afflicted (pg. 30) : to cause pain or suffering to (someone or something)
delirious (pg. 30) : not able to think or speak clearly especially because of fever or other illness
decimating (pg. 31) : to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)
plummeting (pg. 34) : to fall suddenly straight down especially from a very high place
dubious (pg. 35) : unsure or uncertain : feeling doubt about something
exempt (pg. 36) : not required to do something that others are required to do
engorged (pg. 38) : to fill with with blood to the point of congestion
cauterize (pg. 38) : to burn (something, such as a wound) with heat or a chemical substance in order to destroy infected tissue
culprit (pg. 41) : a person who has committed a crime or done something wrong

Chapter 5

teeming (pg. 44) : give birth to / to become filled to overflowing : abound
deformity (pg. 46) : a condition in which part of the body does not have the normal or expected shape
provisions (pg. 48) : a supply of food and other things that are needed
frisky (pg. 48) : very playful or lively
dissuade (pg. 50) : to convince (someone) not to do something
intricacy (pg. 51) : something that is complex or detailed
bewildered (pg. 52) : to confuse (someone) very much
procuring (pg. 53) : to get (something) by some action or effort
perched (pg. 65) : to sit on or be on something high or on something from which it is easy to fall
contemplating (pg. 74) : to think deeply or carefully about (something)