Blog # 11 - Is "Gathering of Pearls" Interesting?

“Gathering of Pearls” is a very good book and is interesting to me. The story is easy to understand. It made me think about when I came to America to go to school.  Everything was so different than in China, and I was not sure that I would fit in or like it here. Maybe Sookan was not sure how she would fit in.

I really thought that I knew how Sookan felt when, after she signed up for her classes, she said

I knew it would be difficult for me, and that I would have to study many more hours than my classmates because of my poor command of English. But armed with what had quickly become my constant companions, my English-Korean and Korean-English dictionaries, I was determined to get through these classes. (p. 18)

When I first started having classes in English, it took me a long time to read anything, because when I would read most things, I would have to look up something every few words. I have a translator pen that I can use to scan a word in a book and find out what it means in Chinese, but it still took a long time. It had to take Sookan a very long time to look up words in a book.

            I liked that Sookan was able to make some good friends soon after she got to the college. Her roommate Ellen was very outgoing and talked a lot. Marci was not as outgoing as Ellen, but she was a good friend to Sookan too. I think that Sookan felt closer to Marci when Marci brought her some lunch on the day when Sookan went to see Miss Mullen to find out about the babysitting job. When Sookan came out from seeing Miss Mullen,

On the bench by the door was Marci. “I knew you would miss lunch, “she said.  The Cafeteria just closed. I didn’t feel like eating there without you, so I went to the snack bar and got us two ham sandwiches. (p. 23)

Sookan was happy about this very kind thing that Marci did for her. I think that Sookan also felt closer to Marci when Marci said that she and her older sister did not have much to say to each other. I think that Sookan was feeling that way about her own sister.

            Sookan’s mother is very kind and wants Sookan to be happy and not to worry about her. I think that Sookan’s sister is not a good person. She is a Nun, so she is supposed to be a good person. She works to help poor people, but she is not good to Sookan. She has decided that she wants Sookan to be a Nun like her and does not seem to care what Sookan wants to do. Her letters always talk about how hard she is working and that she will be happy when Sookan comes back to Korea to be a Nun like her. She never thinks about what Sookan wants to do. In her letters, she always writes mean things to Sookan and makes her feel bad. I do not think that she is a good sister, even if she is a Nun.

1.what does Sookan feel when she read her sister's letter?
2.what do you think about her sister?

Gathering of Pearls" Study Guide Questions - Ch. 12

Chapter 12

1.     What food does Sookan prepare for her guests?

She made rice, grilled beef called bulgogi, and vegetables.

2.     What do Marci and Ellen add to the celebration?

Marci made brownies. Ellen brought the table cloth, matching napkins and Christmas serving plates.

3.     Who joins them?

Kyle, the Bennetts, Sister Casey and Sister Reed.

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

It was so important because Sookan was able to share some food from home with the people that she cared about in America. Also, it helped her understand why her mother was so happy having people over for dinner.

Gathering of Pearls" Study Guide Questions - Ch. 11

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?

Sookan’s mother is very kind and wants Sookan to be happy. She is telling Sookan not to worry and to enjoy her life in America. She tells Sookan what is going on with her brothers, but she does not say anything to put more pressure on Sookan. It is not important to her mother that she follows Korean culture. It is important to her mother that Sookan be happy. The letter from her sister shows that her sister does not think about Sookan’s happiness at all. Her sister talks about how hard she is working in Korea. In her sister’s letter, her sister talks about how she is disappointed with Sookan because there are things about American culture that she likes. The sister told Sookan that she wanted her to share her feelings, but the sister did not approve of Sookan’ feelings. Sookan’s sister also wants her to send some things to her in Korea and does not care that Sookan has little money.

Gathering of Pearls" Study Guide Questions - Ch. 10

Chapter 10

1.     What is Sookan’s secret study spot?

Sookan’s secret study spot is the bath tub.

2.     What happened to her while she was studying for her final exam?

When she was studying for her final exam, she got very sick and passed out in the floor. She was taken to the infirmary.

3.     What are Sister Reed’s instructions for Sookan over winter break?

Sister Reed told Sookan that she could not take any books with her to Marci’s house.

Gathering of Pearls" Study Guide Questions - Ch. 9

Chapter 9

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

Thanksgiving with Ellen’s family is good for Sookan because Ellen’s mother gave her a scrapbook with articles about Sookan from the school newsletter, and because of the nice things that Ellen’s mother said about her. It was bad because when Ellen’s parents met them at the train, they hugged Ellen and it made Sookan miss her mother and brothers. When Ellen’s mother told Sookan to get some rest, it made her realize how lonesome she had been despite all the new friends she had made.