US immigration

US immigration has been going on since the 17^th century. There are always multiple reasons why someone from another country wants to come to the United States. It could be because they have family in the US, they want a better opportunity to work and raise a family or they plan on getting married to a citizen once they cross over. Despite the reason that immigrants come over to the United States, numbers have done nothing but increase over the years of people coming into the United States. In the last 60 years the United States went from 249,187 in 1950 to in 2012 having 1,031,631 people granted legal permanent resident status. While most immigration comes from Mexico and China there are still thousands of people who come from India, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

When reading the books that we have in class including “Crossing the Wire” it made me feel sad about people are crossing the border to survive. Also the fact they are only doing this because they can’t survive in the country that they are from. In my opinion the United States looks at all people that are immigrants as “aliens” and we should not be doing that. Especially in someone has been in the US their entire lives because they came over to the states as a baby and don’t know any other country customs. It reminds me of the part in “Crossing the Wire” when the American man who only knew English paid for tacos with a ten dollar bill and the taco truck man didn’t give him change back until the boys told the truck driver not to rip the guy off. It is cases that follow those lines that make me wonder if the US is always doing the right thing when deporting everyone that they can.

I looked up research on the process of US immigration and found out that it is a very complex process that has to be done in order to become a citizen the legally. There is a limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants with exceptions that enter the US every year. The president and congress determine admissions for the United States.

If there is immigration that is family based then there are three ways that they can get into the country. You have to be a spouse of an US citizen, unmarried minor children of U.S. citizen, who are under 21 years old or parents of a US citizen which you have to be at least 21 years old. Another way to get into the US in employment-based immigration which gives non US citizens temporary visas. There are 5 different types of temporary visas that I found which include transfers, athletes, entertainers and skilled performers, religious workers, domestic employees, extraordinary ability or high skilled employment. These all fall under different categories to allow immigrants to get a temporary or permanent visa.

Through the research I have done and the readings we have done in class it has really opened my eyes about the process and information and struggles that immigrants have to go through in order to become a US citizen.

Crossing The Wire Response

When I first started reading this book it broke my heart that he Victor was so use to being hungry and surviving off of so little. I can’t imagine being his age and feeling like he has to take care of his mother and all of his siblings. The priest wasn't kidding when he said he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I perseverance dedication and something to go on for was so inspiring. He went through so much in what seemed like a lifetime, but was really only a few weeks.

When victor first decided that he was going to go across the border in following his father’s footsteps and how scared he was but by the end he was even braver than Rico, that surprised me because he seemed so scared and had mostly good luck along the way. He also had a happy yet sad ending. He was happy because he was able to send lots of money home to his family but sad because he was saying goodbye to his best friend for who knows how long.

When Victor was making his journey with Rico and they saved that border patrol guy who had hit his head and was passing out because of the heat and injury it made me so sad when the boys asked him questions about how they were going to get deported. The man replied with we aren’t always bad and tried to justify his job. This made me think about how everyone has had a hard job that they have to do but don’t always want to do. Everyone has reason to do something. Like Victor needed to get to America to save his family and this man needed to work to catch thieves not just try and ruin immigrants’ lives.

Crossing the wire to Victor meant more than anything to him, but to the men he ran into at first he was just a boy that didn’t know anything but he quickly proved himself. Whenever you get looked down upon I at least give up because people don’t believe in me but Victor didn’t have that option. He has his father looking down on him and his mother in his heart. When it go and gets tough you try and try again. Victor proved this more than once in the book and I was surprised honestly. Through all negative and the friends that he had lost along the way he kept going and believing.

This book also talked about conquering your fear. Rico would always make fun of him for being scared of rattle snakes and sure enough the trouble that Rico got them into, Victor runs into a rattlesnake that bites him. Overcoming your fears is a big part of not only this book but life in general. I have always been scared of needles and when I got older I had to get a shot for school. I was freaking out and panicking a lot but when the nurse finally gave me the shot I realized it wasn't that bad. I’m still scared of needles but I don’t mind shots as much as I use too.

Crossing the wire showed me not only that you need to be brave but also that everyone is facing challenges that you don’t always know about. Even your best friend might not know about all of the challenges that you are facing in life, just like Rico didn’t know all that was going on in Victor’s home life. I really enjoyed reading this book to the point where I couldn’t put it down. It really opened my eyes about the struggles that people have not only crossing the border but realizing that every day is a challenge that you have to overcome. 

Sold

I started reading Sold and I couldn’t put the book down. I really enjoyed the story of how the author wrote it and the story and struggles that this poor girl suffered through.

When I first started reading this, I loved how she had nothing but a few cucumbers and a goat and that was all that she needed. Then I think about everything that I think I need and I feel like I have so many more things yet I always want more. There is always something new that I want. And yet all she wants is a tin roof and to make her mom happy and have a new sweater. The little things in life that make her happy and she doesn’t complain at all. I love the positive outlook on life this girl has for someone who has close to nothing.

One thing that really surprised me was how excited she was to be going with her Auntie. I know that no one told her what she was actually going to be doing. However when the lady in the store on the mountain said her hips were not wide at all I immediately knew what was going to happen. As a thirteen year old girl I wouldn’t know what was going on either and I would be just as excited and nervous to have all of these new surroundings, things and smells that I have never experienced if I were her. However I would also be very scared about what was going on.

The part that really broke my heart was when she got traded for the final time to Mumtaz. She was so innocent and didn’t know any better. When they started putting make up on her and not answering her questions my heart broke a little because she had no idea what was about to happen she just thought that it was going to a weird way to dress for chores. It made me feel uncomfortable reading the part where she walked into the room knowing that was going on was wrong and I was surprised that she fought for so long and didn’t move towards the man until she got forced. It was also difficult to read when he was basically taking her virginity and she didn’t know what was going on. I would of acted the same way as her, confused and lost and wanting to get out of the surrounding I was in.

This girls life was so hard to live through and I was surprised that she turned around all the negative and made friends to survive the situation she was in. For example when the boy Harish helps her to learn how to speak English and Hindi. That helps her so much especially in the end of the book when she gets rescued. Lakshmi proves multiple times through out this book how strong of a person she is and I admire that in her. I would never be able to do that. Reading things like this makes me realize that this happens in our world all the time. Its not just in third world countries, it happens in Seattle, Spokane and pretty much all countries around the world. The sad part is that it is hard to rescue all women and children that are trapped into this life. Luckily for Lakshmi she did get rescued and this story has a happier ending then other stories do.

I enjoyed reading this book despite the hard parts of the book that I had to read through. It opened my eyes and made me realize that if you are going through a rough time, someone somewhere is going through something worse. Sold is a book worth reading.

Nepal Research

As I started my research on Nepal I wanted to first look into where it was located and how big or small Nepal actually is. Nepal is a roughly rectangular country with an area of 147,181 square miles. To the south, west, and east it is bordered by Indian states. Nepal is home to the Himalayan Mountains, including Mount Everest. Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line.

I also wanted to research the daily life in Nepal such as what they eat and the economy. I found that most Nepalis do not feel that they eat actual meals every day; some people will go days without eating at all. However rice is a very popular meal for the average Nepal person. If they can afford it, Nepal serves rice with dal, a lentil dish, and tarkari, along with cooked vegetables. However most people do have the luxury of eating this much, and some don’t even have the luxury of eating rice. In the very poor areas of Nepal, rice is scare so the staple food in these areas is called dhiro which is a think mush made of corn or millet. In Nepal you will find it most common for people to be eating on the floor with their hands.

I found it interesting about the different gender roles in Nepal. I found that only men plow, while fetching water is generally considered women's work. Women cook, care for children, wash clothes, and collect firewood and fodder. Men perform the heavier agricultural tasks and often engage in trade, portering, and other work outside the village. Both men and women perform physically demanding labor, but women tend to work longer hours, have less free time, and die younger. In urban areas, men are far more likely to work outside the home. When I found research on this it also said that most women worked in the family business of shopkeepers or seamstresses. However I know that Human Trafficking is a big thing in Nepal.

I found the facts shocking as to what happens in Nepal when it comes to trafficking. Children are trafficked within the country and to India and the Middle East for commercial sexual exploitation or forced marriage, as well as to India and within the country for involuntary servitude as domestic servants, circus entertainers, factory workers, or beggars. There was an estimate that 10,000 to 15,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked to India annually, while 7,500 children are trafficked domestically for commercial sexual exploitation. The fact that Nepal has no problem doing this to children at such a young age blows my mind! Especially the fact that girls range between ages 7 and 24, with an average age of 15 are typically the ones put into this. Not as much older women. These girls are forced to have sex with as many as 40 clients a day. These girls are not paid and most will never be set free despite what the owners tell them. I found that most men don’t use condoms and HIV and other diseases are transferred and are common to have. Although if they are found with HIV the girls are thrown to the street and have to fend for themselves. Many girls try and go back to their families but the families will not take them back. Personally I think this happens because they are ashamed of all they have done and some of these families actually sold their own children into this life and it would be hard to look at them or accept what you as a parent has done. However it doesn’t mean it is right.

This stuff happens all the time in Nepal and the people of Nepal know it is going on but don’t do anything about it. This is an eye opening research and read of the book Sold and makes me at least want to help in some way.

Culture

Tow Mater: This pillow pet represents my culture by showing that I am a little kid at heart. I love anything Disney. This shaped me by having a positive attitude on everything. While some may view this negatively I only look at it as a positive because that is the outlook on like I have.
Boy Photo: This photo represents last summer when I volunteered to be a leader at Vacation Bible School. This picture shows and represents my religious views. I am a proud Lutheran and with out my church and youth director I would be looking at Christ in a different view. Church has opened my eyes to be a better me
Name tag: This is my name tag for work. I work at the Red Lion Hotel in Spokane. This job has shown me responsibility, time management and organization. I'm a host at the restaurant which means I have to have a positive attitude. I've also learned the value of a dollar and how to save my money.
Alpha Phi keychain: This key chain represents the sorority I became a part of almost two years ago. This place shaped me to be responsible and how to live on my own. The house has become my second home and will help me continue to grow as a person well beyond my college career.
Family Photo: My family means the world to me. They have shaped me to be the person I am today. This photo was taken in Hawaii last summer. My family has always been there for me. My mom taught me to follow my dreams and be patient. My dad taught me to love the country music I listen to everyday and my baby or not so baby brother anymore taught me about laughter and friendship. I love my family.

Kampung Boy Response

When reading Kampug Boy I didn’t really understand what the story was going to be about at first. However the pages full of pictures helped me through it. When reading through the book when the author would use words such as anjung or lounge and other words it would confuse me because in my opinion it was random. Although I did learn some cool words from another language. As I continued reading about this boy’s life, I felt as if he was in a prison. As a child he could not leave or go past certain points of his house and when he did, he would have to do it secretly. I thought this was weird but then again this book is about different culture.

One thing that made me think and appreciate my own culture from this book is when the boy had to go to the banana truck and he had to suffer a painful bite. It makes me wonder why they do that. I assume it is part of the culture. It made me feel sad that they did this to these boys as such a young age. I think that this is just a custom of the culture though.

Another custom that caught my eye was how close he was with his dad and how much they got along even when he was a little boy. He looked up to his father more than he even realized. For example when he was on the verge of either passing the test or not and his father basically gave him a bribe of this could be yours if you get your grades together. This I think really opened up the boys eyes because he might not have passed the test if it wasn't for his father. I believe that the male role model in this culture is a big influence because they are role models and someone that as a child, had a lot of influence whether it was his first bath or just someone to play with.

Discoveries I have learned from reading this book are that culture in this book is very different and it boggles my mind how different my world and the boy’s world is. School is a huge priority both cultures however it is also different because of how the school is taught. The boy in the story got humiliated because he was bad at math but great at art. Therefore he was discouraged and spent most of time fishing when he got to school.

In conclusion Kampung Boy was a story that really made me think about culture differences. I really enjoyed the book overall.

Research on Malaysia

Malaysia has been around for a long time. Ancient Malaysia started around 35,000 BC – 100 BC. Historians have stated that the past of Malaysia is “shrouded in mystery” which is a black hole in Asian history. In 1961, the term "Malaysia" came into being after Tunku convinced Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak to join Malaya in a federal union. Back then Malaysia was a large race of people from multiple races and cultures. The national language in Malaysia is called Malay, however the Chinese dominate business and trade and most Malay people struggle from economic hardship. Recently Malaysia has undergone great growth and prosperity and has made significant progress in relationships because of the Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohammed who led the country from 1981-2003.

When you go to Malaysia they have some great dishes to try. The cuisine of China and southern India are influences to Malaysia’s food heritage. Main ingredients that are used in Malaysian food would be tropical fruits and seafood along with chilies and curries from India. Breakfast is the major meal of the day in Malaysia. A typical meal for breakfast would be nasi kandar, fish curry served with meat in chili sauce and boiled eggs. There is also usually rice cooked in coconut milk served with fish curry, coconut sambal and cucumber pickle. Malaysia is known for their inexpensive food and food stalls which are usually located in small towns, or even big cities. The most popular dish of Malaysia is called Satay. Satay is bite sized pieces of beef, mutton or chicken which are marinated in spices then skewed through thin bamboo strips and barbequed over charcoal fire. This dish is usually served with rice cake and a raw cucumber pineapple and onion salad. Often time sweet spicy peanut sauce goes well with this dish.

If you ever decide to visit Malaysia you can always go visit a rain forest. This is a very popular thing to do whenever someone visits Malaysia. Malaysia is the oldest rain forest on the planet and is also one of the most unique in the world. You can visit the rain forest either day or night and experience the beauty of it. Another activity you can do while in Malaysia is diving. Diving in the tropical waters of Malaysia has some of the world’s best scuba diving. Some areas when you go scuba diving you can get 100 or more feet of visibility. Year after year there is more access to protection for the unique marine life in Malaysia. Another amazing site seeing thing to experience in Malaysia is the beautiful caves that they have. Malaysia has the world’s largest single cave passage along with the longest cave passage both located in the Gunung Mulu National Park.

Overall, Malaysia would be a great place to visit for the site seeing, great food and the history of this country. What was meaningful for me when learning about Malaysia was the amount of world’s first, or world’s largest things that they have. You don’t usually hear about Malaysia and now that I have researched the history, food and site seeing it makes me want to visit this foreign country that I use to know very little about.