To Kill a Mockingbird Final Journal #9: Chapters 28-31 (perspective of Bob Ewell)

So close, I was so close! I almost had those two Finch kids. I was just waiting to see the terror on Atticus's face after he heard about his dead two kids. And I had the perfect plan too! I had even consented with myself before going into action. It was all because of that stupid stranger that had to come out of nowhere and kill me.

This was the most genius plan ever. And it seemed so simple. Just follow the kids home after the pageant when it was dark. Luck was on my side too when they didn't have a flashlight. But it seemed that they heard me. I was stopping constantly as they were, but it seemed to me that they thought I was something else. It was all so simple how I would persecute Atticus through them.

I had knocked out the older brother, and was thinking to myself that this would be easy, even after that sheriff Heck Tate took away my switchblade. he was on the ground so I went after the little one who was still in her costume. This was more of my luck that she was inside the costume because it had a reflective stripe on it. The only downside is that I wouldn't be able to get directly at her.

I jumped at her and tried to strangle her. I would've done it too if that stranger hadn't jumped on me. The little brat got away, and I was left dead laying on the ground with the stranger's kitchen knife in my ribs. But I bet that the authorities will say that I allegedly fell on my knife.

After an assessment of what had happened, I realized that I had died. I didn't know what it was like to die, but it isn't as bad as I thought. I guess it was because of all the whisky that I had drank that saved me from he pain of passing away.

But I was mad! Mad, mad, mad! Those kids got away, and I didn't even get Atticus back. The only thing that went my way was that tom Robinson died, but that was from his own stupidity, not because I had wreaked my revenge on him. All these inconveniences always had to happen to me. But now I don't have to deal with it anymore. Besides, I always liked the heat of the fire.

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #7: Chapters 20-24 (perspective of Jem)

The courtroom was getting tiresome. But I had to keep my hope and faith that Tom Robinson was going to prevail and win the case. Dill and Scout just came back in from outside, and Reverend Sykes had saved their seats. Atticus was going through his closing statement. His closing statement was so powerful, I thought that the jury would've known who to vote for right then and there.

Just as he finished, Cal came walking down the aisle with something in her hand. It was envelope which she handed to Atticus. I was wondering what it was about, since she told the judge that it was irrelevant to the case. Then it hit me. We weren't supposed to be here, and now we would get scolded from three different people. Atticus looked up at the judge, and told him what I had predicted.

From below, Mr. Underwood called out giving away our position in the balcony. Atticus looked up toward us, and saw us. Trying not to draw attention, we stealthily walked down the steps to Atticus and Cal waiting for us at the bottom. Atticus told us what I had apprehended. We were to go home with Cal immediately for supper, but to then stay home. I pleaded to let us come back to here the verdict. Atticus relented and decided that if we had heard this much already, that we might as well hear the end of it.

I got my second scolding from Cal on our walk home. She kept repeating that we should be ashamed of ourselves, but that didn't stop my good mood from changing. I laughed and joked all the way to our house. I walked in and was followed by Dill and Scout. Cal served us potato salad and ham. Aunt Alexandra didn't each much though after she had heard where we were, she just rearranged the food on her plate. I was praying in my head that perhaps I wouldn't have to get my third scolding from her.

After an hour, the three of us walked back to the courtroom. It had not changed much, and Reverend Sykes had saved our seats. The few changes were the jury were no longer in their box, Judge Taylor was asleep, and the room had a certain stillness about it. Babies weren't crying and there weren't children running around. Reverend Sykes told me that most of the spectators had left and brought back food to eat in the court room.

The courthouse bell rang eight o'clock, and the jury still hadn't come to their verdict. I looked over at Scout who was fighting off sleep. Dill was already resting his head on my arm. I might've dozed off, but I can't remember. We all came to attention when the clock struck eleven. The jury came out to present their conclusion. I found it improbable for Tom Robinson to be guilty, and I couldn't wait for it to be proved.

But the inevitable happened. A paper was passed through three sets of hands before getting to the judge who read it. Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty. I started to cry knowing that twelve people had done something that was completely wrong and not fair. Atticus packed his suit case and began to walk out. Everyone in the balcony rose in his honor. I followed suit to respect my father. I found it amazing that even though he had lost, that the Black Community still respected and honored him.

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #6: Chapters 15-19 (perspective of Bob Ewell)

It was a long day in the court today. It was about 90 degrees, and the sun was coming down on us. Luckily, the witnesses sat in the shade, but I wasn't sorry for the Negroes who sat up on the balcony, the balcony that provided shade for us. I was only a little upset that Tom Robinson got to sit in the shade with the witnesses, and that he should be sitting in the baking sun, especially after what he had done to my Mayella.

I was second to the stand after Heck Tate. I had showered last night so that I wouldn't be too ashamed of being dirty, yet the the audience still looked at me like I was covered in filth. Horace Gilman was the first to interrogate me. I indulged myself in knowing that he was the prosecutor, and he was on my side.

He started off by asking who I was, and establish exactly who I was. I didn't know why he was doing this because we had talked before, but I guess it was for the jury to know. Then he asked what happened on exactly November the 21st. I told everyone my story of how I was hunting in the woods, an I heard my daughter screaming. I ran back to our house where I looked in the window and saw Mayella on the floor with a Negro choking her. I chased him off, but got tangled in our fence.

I stood up and shouted, "There he is right there!" pointing to the defendant, Tom Robinson. The courtroom was buzzing with noise, and Judge Taylor had to hammer his gavel for five minutes. After those five minutes of noise, the room was silenced. Horace started asking questions again, as if to reassure that I had said everything I had told in my story. Horace was done with his questions, so I ran off the stand to the witnesses bench. But first I ran into Atticus, the lawyer protecting Tom Robinson.

Atticus put me up on the stand again to cross-examine me. I didn't know why, I had already told the truth, but the Judge made me stay up there. Atticus started to ask me about Mayella's injuries. Heck had already answered Atticus once, but I had no choice except to answer them again. I told him of her right black eye, and bruises, but he interrupted me. He asked if I agreed with everything Heck said. I said yes, and Atticus seemed to change subject to my education. Horace objected saying that the subject was irrelevant, but Atticus told the Judge if he could continue, he would have good reason in a few minutes. Judge Taylor overruled the objection, and Atticus continued.

First he wanted to know if I could read and write. Of course I could, I had gone to school for three years. How could I not read and write. And besides that, I had to be able to sign my relief checks. Atticus then took an envelope and a pen from his jacket. He asked me to right my name so I did oblivious to what he was trying to prove. It was after I had written my name when it occurred to me why Atticus was doing this. Judge Taylor breathed that I was left handed under his breath, and I think they found me out.

Horace tried to save me by asking the biggest word in the world. He asked if I was ambidextrous. I didn't know what they meant, but I thought it was bad. I said that I was not, but I could use both hand equally. Anything that I could do with my left, I could do with my right. Judge Taylor released me to the witness bench, where I sat down amiably, knowing that they couldn't have found out anyways.

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #5 Chapters 13-15 (perspective of Atticus)

I came home after a long exhausting day at work. My kids complacently came running out of the house to meet me. Jem even took what I was holding and carried it into the house. Scout jumped into my arms and asked if I got her a book. My answer was yes and I saw her face brighten. She also asked if I knew Alexandra was here. I knew that my sister was coming and it comforted me to know that she arrived safely. But Scout seemed a little disappointed. I asked Scout what was wrong, but she said that she was happy to have her Aunty to live with us for a while. But the sound of her voice and the look in her eye made me think she was lying. I told her that Alexandra would be a big help around here with the summer about to be hard to go through. She accepted it, and ran off into the house.

My sister fit in with Maycomb. Everyone in the town excepted her. Almost our entire neighborhood came by to talk to her or have coffee, and she became Secretary of the Maycomb Amanuensis Club. She was almost always preoccupied when I got home with either talking to a group of women sitting in our living room, to teaching my kids what it means to be a Finch.

One of the days, she was teaching Scout and Jem about how everybody and their family get a streak. Such as a gambling streak, drinking streak, or an attitude streak. I broke into the conversation saying that we were pretty much the first in the Finch family not to marry one of our own cousins. Then I asked if the Finch's had an incestuous streak. I thought it was true, but Alexandra, as always, denied it to make our family look better and stronger.

It was another long day at my office working on the Robinson case, when Alexandra stopped me as soon as I got in the door. Jem and Scout didn't come out running to me, which I was a little disappointed in. My sister wanted me to talk to Scout and Jem about how they should grow up as proper Finch's and behave accordingly. I got the usual "You're not raising your kids right and you need to do something about!" speech that our neighbors usually give me.

I walked into Jem's room where I found both Scout and Jem there. I tried to tell them what Alexandra had requested, but I just couldn't find the words for it. It was just too uncomfortable to tell them. I was fidgeting and stammering which I had never done before in front of my two kids. Most of the message came out in half-words, but in the end I told them to forget it. They looked shocked. Scout started to drag a comb against an edge of the dresser to make a terrible noise. Before I could stop, I shouted out at her to stop.

Scout buried her crying face into my vest which I hadn't had time to change out of. I didn't know what to do for a moment. Jem looked like he was about to cry to. I put my hand on Scout's head and reassured her that she didn't need to worry. I walked out of the room and almost slammed the door, but I caught myself. I closed the door gently and quietly.

I was enjoying my half hour of peace and quiet that my kids allotted me each day. I was thankful for this because I was constantly talking with people at the office. Scout came over and asked a curious question. She wanted to know what rape was. She was oblivious to many things, so I gave her a simple but true answer. She said if all it was was that, then why didn't Cal tell her on Sunday. This raised curiosity in me, so I began an interrogation of what happened on Sunday. The three of them went to Cal's church, First Purchase, and had heard that Tom Robinson was being charged for rape. She then got into a story of how Calpurnia said that Scout could go over to her house whenever was fine. Cal would even be willing to pick her up if necessary. I was about to say yes when Alexandra who had been sitting in the corner said no.

The two got into an argument that gave me a head ache. Scout said that she wasn't asking her, and only listened to me. I wasn't in acquiescence with Alexandra, but I had to take her side anyways. I told Scout that as long as Alexandra was living under our roof, that she had to take orders from her. Scout sulked off to the bathroom, the one door that had a lock on it inside the house.

Amiably Alexandra approached me. I wasn't sure what she wanted, but I guess I had to find out. She began to lecture me about Calpurnia. She said that Cal was a bad role model, and that we should fire her. I came back at her with Cal being part of the family, and that she wasn't going to leave until she wanted to. I needed Calpurnia to help me out. She had been around for the last seven years, and I still needed her, regardless of Alexandra being here or not. I returned back to the paper to forget about my sister.

Five minutes later I heard a commotion in Jem's room. I thought to myself that they must be fighting again which had become more common between the two of them. I busted into the room to see Scout tackling and fighting with Jem on his bed. I forced the two apart and ordered them to bed instantly. Scout went to her room, and I left.

It was about ten minutes later when I acquired the knowledge that Dill was here. He had hid under Scout's bed for the last two hours. I went to Scout's room to find him there eating the left over cornbread from our dinner. He seemed shocked and scared to see me. But Scout prodded him along with the answers to my questions. When I was done with the interrogation, I told Scout to get him more than just a pan of cornbread to eat, and I told Dill to get a shower. He was filthy and looked as if he was rolling in the dirt all day.

I phoned Ms. Rachel to tell her that her nephew was here. She came over to scold him, then give him a big hug and greeting. Apparently he had run away and his parents were looking for him. She left and said that it was fine that he could stay the night. The two went off the bed, and I followed suit.

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #4: Chapters 10-12 (perspective of Reverand Sykes)

There was a nice surprise at my church on Sunday. Calpurnia brought Mr. Finch's kids with her. I know that Mr. Finch was on our brother Tom Robinson's case, so I quickly figured out why his kids were here. As I was walking down a pathway to the sanctuary, I saw them. But it irked me to see that Lula was giving them a hard time. Lula was a type of person that only wanted to be around colored people, and disagreed with anything that had to do with whites. But I can't ask her to leave, she is still a sister under god with us.

At first they were just jawing with each other. I knew that Lula would be upset with Mr. Finch's kids here. But it looked like Cal could handle it. Or at least I hope she could. Talking with Lula in the morning before a sermon wasn't my favorite thing to do, especially before we are about to worship god. Lula stopped in her tracks, then turned around and walked away. Calpurnia's son Zeebo emerged from the crowd gathered around them, and it appeared that he was giving them a proper welcome.

I continued down the path to the sanctuary. Everyone was preoccupied with talking with each other just like any other Sunday. I stood behind the pulpit silently for everyone to quiet down. I was looking around at our limited ecclesiastical items, when I noticed Calpurnia and our two guest in the first pew. Cal was talking with them, and pulled a couple coins out of her purse to hand to the kids. They talked back to her, but I couldn't here it. She quieted them down and pointed up to me. Shortly after, everyone quieted.

I started the sermon with a few community announcements. One of them was about Tom Robinson. I told the congregation that he had been loyal to First Purchase since he was a small boy. Everyone knew Tom Robinson and his current situation. I was saying that our morning collection for the past three weeks were going to his wife Helen, to support her and her kids. I thought I might have seen Mr. Finch's youngest start talking to Cal, but she was immediately quieted. I then opened it up to our opening hymn.

Zeebo walked down the aisles to the front with our only hymn book. It was a large old book, but it still served its purpose. Zeebo started us off with hymn 273. He read a line, and the congregation followed. This was the only way we could sing, for he was one of four people in the church that could read. When we got to the chorus, he closed the book because everyone knew the words. He opened the book and started again, with the congregation in sync behind him.

When the hymn finished, I called upon the holy lord to help the sick and the wounded, and led us in some prayers. I warned the men to watch out for women who might cheat them, and I warned Constance Jackson that she was in peril for arguing with her neighbor.

I finished the prayers, and called for the offering. Individually the congregation came up to the pulpit to drop in their change. It was mainly nickels and dimes, but I knew that we had to support Helen and her kids. Even Mr. Finch's children came up to drop a dime in. When the offering was complete, I counted the change, but it was not enough. I told the usher to shut the doors, and nobody was to leave until we came up with ten dollars. I slowly extracted the money from the congregation. By that time, it was hot, stuffy, and sweaty in the sanctuary. People were waving the makeshift fans to cool themselves off.

The ten dollars came after I pointed out a few members who I had not seen come up here yet. The doors were opened, and the warm air outside came in. Everyone sighed a deep breath that it was now over. I had Zeebo come up and give us a closing hymn. We finished the morning with On Jordan's Stormy Banks.

Mr. Finch's two kids came up to me afterwards. They were full of questions about the Robinsons. Especially the daughter. I tried to give them pensive answers, but they kept asking questions. Calpurnia came to my rescue when she put a hand on each of there shoulders, and they immediately stopped asking questions. They each politely said thank you for letting them come to church, and left.

I cleaned up the papers on the floor, locked up, and left for the Robinsons house to give them the morning offering. I felt happy that I was doing them a favor, and the lord one.

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #3: Chapters 8-9 (perspective of Jem)

Today was one of the coldest days of my life. I had never experienced snow, but I had seen it before in picture shows. But it was my sister's first time to get acquainted with it. I was getting up in the morning when I heard Scout yelling for Atticus, and that the world was ending. Startled, I looked out my window, and there was snow on the ground, and a falling. I guess for someone who had never seen snow before would've thought the world was coming to an end.

I was feeling bad, because Mr. Avery said that bad weather was a result from kids' misbehavior, not listening to their parents, smoking cigarettes, or fighting each other. But my mood changed when school was canceled due to the now on the ground. Then I thought that maybe it wasn't so bad if we did all those things because we wouldn't have school.

Mrs. Radley died this winter. We were curious as to how she died, so Scout asked Atticus about it after we had debated who should ask. He had been there earlier in the day, and Scout wanted to know if he had seen Boo. He replied that no he did not, and Mrs. Radley had died a natural death, much to our disappointment.

With all the snow on the ground, I decided to make a snow man. I told Scout to stop walking all over it and that she was wasting it. We went over to Ms. Maudie's yard, where she was inspecting her flowers. We asked for all the snow in her yard, and she agreed to it, but moments afterward questioned me what I was going to do with it. I wanted it to be a surprise, so I told her that she would see.

I started by getting all the snow from the backyard to the front yard, along with five basket fulls of dirt. I started building with the dirt, when Scout interrupted that it didn't look like a snowman. I reassured her that my ingenuous plan would work out, and that she would see it in the end. We finished with the part and put the snow on it. I decorated the face with bits of wood, and looking at my art, I realized it looked like Mr. Avery. I was so excited, I called Atticus to tell him that we had a surprise when he got home.

When Atticus got home, he admired our artwork. But he didn't like the fact that it looked like Mr. Avery. Thinking quick, I ran across the street to the house adjacent house from us. I returned with Ms. Maudie's straw hat, and hedge clippers. The hat I placed on the snowman's head, and I arranged the clippers so that they appeared for her to be holding them. Ms. Maudie came out of her house, and yelled at me to give her back her hat and hedge clippers. But Atticus just grinned and walked over to her, and settled things.

Atticus woke in the middle of the night. I'm not sure what time it was, but I think it was around one o' clock. But I did know that it was cold. We walked to Scout's room to get her up. I still didn't know what was going on, but I thought I smelled smoke. It was hard to tell with the smell of snow everywhere. We walked outside to see Ms. Maudie's house ablaze. I was perplexed by the oranges, reds, and yellows coming from the flames. Atticus walked us to the lamp post nest to the Radley house, and told us to stay there. We watched helplessly from the sidewalk at her house going down in flames, and the men pulling out her furniture. The Maycomb county fire engine was coming, but I wondered why it was so slow. I learned in the next minute that men were pushing it down the streets. When they hooked it up to the fire hydrant, the hose exploded, and ice crystals went everywhere. Another fire truck came from Abbotsbville, and Scout dug her head into my clothing for warmth.

The fire started to lick our house, and I was going to run over to get stuff out, when I noticed Atticus was relaxed, and didn't look worried. Scout had the same idea as me, but I reassured her when Atticus wasn't panicking. The fire finally died down, and we went back to our house. Nothing was destroyed, but it smelled of smoke. Atticus offered some hot chocolate to take our mind off of what had happened. As we sat drinking our cocoa, we spotted a blanket lying on the floor. Scout had been wearing it, but it wasn't ours. We decided that Boo Radley must have dropped it on her shoulders while we were watching the flames. That might have frightened Scout, but it helped me think that Boo Radley wasn't after children after all.

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #2: Chapters 4-7 (perspective of Dill)

I finally got out of school today in late June. This was exciting for me because in the summer I get to spend with my Aunt Rachel, and I don't have to outlast the tormenting of the teachers But these aren't the only reason why I want to go to Maycomb County; my friends Jem and Scout live there. I'm hoping that they will still remember me and play with me, and this summer maybe I will be able to get a closer look at the Radley house. Now that I'm older, I'm not scared of the tyranny that is said to live in the house.

A day after getting out of school, I got on my train to Maycomb County. On the way there, I thought of a couple possible lies to impress Jem and Scout. My first thoughts were of the train. I could say that I helped with the railroad, and even saw my father working on it, with his black pointed beard! I sure hope they buy this.

Somehow they didn't believe me. If someone told this to me, I would believe it. But that's okay because Jem, Scout, and I are still on good terms. We played in an old tire. Jem said we shouldn't because he couldn't get in it, but Scout still raced to the back of their house, and came back with it. I argued that I should go first because I was the guest, but of course Jem sided with his sister, so Scout went first. She also ended up going last because Jem pushed her so hard; they ended up in the Radley's front yard. Jem was trying to gather his sister up, but she was just lying there, not moving. Finally she got up with the help of Jem, retrieved the tire, and bolted back to where I was standing, to continue their shouting match. But we were saved when Jem and Scout's house maid yelled lemonade time. Unanimously, we all walked into the house.

During our lemonade break, we talked about what we were going to play. It was Jem who thought up playing the parts of Radley. He was assigning Scout to play the part of Mrs. Radley, when Scout tried to protest that it was dangerous for us to play this game. I teased her and told her that Jem and I could play and she could just watch. At that, she agreed to play, to prove she wasn't afraid of Boo Radley. Scout was Mrs. Radley who had to sweep the porch, I was old Mr. Radley who walked up and down the sidewalk, and Jem was Boo Radley who hid under the steps and occasionally screamed or howled.

As the summer went on, we played more, and the game got more complex. I was always being complimented for being able to play any role that was assigned to me, which made me feel pretty proud. We finally got to the point where Jem fake stabs scissors into my leg. Scout told me it looked pretty convincing and real, but I knew it wasn't. As I turned around, I noticed that Jem's dad was standing there, slapping a magazine against his knee. He interrogated us about what we were playing, and Jem answered all the questions, trying to keep what we were doing a secret. But I think that their father found out because he noticed the scissors Jem were holding. He took them away and walked inside the house. Scout was wimping out again, so Jem threatened that she could just go and play with other girls like the one she was becoming. But I think there was more that she knew that I didn't.

I spent almost the rest of the summer with Jem. Scout had beat up twice already after I had ignored her, so it was only us two who hung out together. We mainly spent our time up in the tree house, planning a way to contact Boo Radley. It was my idea to drop a note on his window sill with a fishing pole. On the morning we were putting our plan into action, Scout came up to the tree house. Jem sent her away with a malignant attitude, but she fought back by saying the yard was just as much hers than Jem's. I told her if she wanted to be here and in on our plan, then she had to do what we told her to. She finally agreed to it out of curiosity. Jem told her our plan, and her face went pale. I could see on her face that she was scared of this plan of action. She was questioning every part of it such as where we were going to put the note, and what happened if someone sees us. I held up their mother's silver bell, and told her if anyone comes, I'll ring it. We then told her how we had been scouting out the area around to house, and found a loose shutter that we would be able to put the note onto. Jem got the pole and put the note on it. Scout and I walked to our lookout positions on the opposite sidewalks. It seemed like forever for Jem to get that note up there, and I could here him complaining with by back turned that it wouldn't get off the pole. The foreverness that I was imagining ended when I saw their father, Atticus, walking up the sidewalk to us. In a panic, I rang the bell and turned around to face Jem and Scout. I was still ringing it when I turned around face to face with Atticus. He told me to stop ringing the bell, and I did immediately as I came back to my senses. But the following silence, I wished I had kept ringing it. Atticus gave us all a scolding, and told us to stop bothering Boo Radley. But Jem said that we weren't bothering him, we were just trying to communicate with him, but Jem didn't get that far. His father had finally realized what we were doing when were playing, but described it as putting his life's story on display for the neighborhood. Atticus stormed away to the house, and Jem yelled after him, that must of been an inside joke because I didn't understand it.

Tonight was my last night here in Maycomb. I was trying to construct a cigarette when Jem and Scout pop over the fence into my aunt's yard. We were just talking and enjoying our last few minutes with each other, when I suggested we go for a "walk". Jem new what I meant, but his sister caught onto it. She said that nobody in Maycomb just went for a "walk". Jem suggested that she go home if she didn't want to walk with us down to the light pole and back. But she tagged along anyway.

We crawled underneath the fence which Jem had a hard time getting under. I wondered if it would also be a challenge for him to get out too. Our next obstacle was a rusty old fence that squeaked. We each spat on it until there was no saliva left in our mouths, but when we opened it, it was silent. Jem and Scout lifted me up so that I could see into the window. I didn't see anything except a light off in the distance, which I reported back to them. Then it was Jem's turn to check in the back window. The first porch step squeaked, but it held his weight. He was telling us he didn't see anything, when I noticed Scout's head jerk to the right. I glanced to the right to see what she was looking at. At first I didn't see it, but then I noticed a shadow creeping toward us. When it fell over Jem, he looked up, and dashed to us. But the shadow was leaving. He continued running us through the gate. Scout tripped in collards patch, and a boom sounded through the neighborhood. A shotgun boom. Jem and I dived down next to Scout, and then we pulled ourselves back up to get out. Scout and I made it under the fence fine, but turned around when we didn't hear Jem behind us.

We raced back to the fence where Jem was, while trying to evade any other possible attacks. Jem was stuck under the fence, and tore his pants off to get under. We all ran to the school yard, and the long way around. We then realized the entire neighborhood would be at the Radley's house, and it would be suspicious if we weren't there.

As we got around the block, we saw the enormous crowd at the Radley house. We slowed our breathing and walked the rest of the way there. We slipped in, and Jem tried asking Atticus what happened to make it look natural. Atticus told him what we had just endured, while Jem managed a surprised look on his face. Mr. Nathan Radley then threatened to all of us there, that the next person to go onto his property would get shot with his other shotgun.

It was after that, when Atticus realized Jem's pants were missing. I thought up a quick lie, and told him we were playing strip poker, in my aunt's backyard. That's also why we weren't there immediately. I could see the admiration on Scout's face of how I could lie. Atticus let us go, and had Jem get his pants from my aunt's house, but we all knew they weren't there. We went our separate ways back home, and told them to write to me during the school year. Man that was one of the best summers ever!

To Kill a Mockingbird Journal #1: Chapters 1-3 (perspective of Jem)

Today a tiny kid came over to our house. He was the nephew of our neighbor, Miss Stephanie Crawford. He told us that he would be staying here every summer. I asked him his name, and it was extremely long for a person his size. Charles Baker Harris. But he had a nick name of Dill, and I think that fit him better. He was 7 years old going on 8, and was bragging about being able to read. My sister Scout showed him though. She's 6 years old and going into first grade, and she can already read.

Dill played with us for as long as he stayed there. Scout was relieved of the embarrassing roles in their reenactments of Tarzan, The Rover Boys, and Tom Swift. We amazed him with legends of the Radley House, and there was a malevolent phantom inside who never came except at night. We saw his awe in the house when he stood at the closest street light, hanging onto it with all his strength, but gazing at the house. One day, Dill dared me to run up and knock on the door of the Radley and run away. I always keep my honor on dares, but this one scared me. I told Dill that if he wanted me to do that, then Boo Radley would come out of his house and kill the three of us. After a couple of days of my stalling, Dill and I finally compromised that I would only have to touch the Radley house. I ran up to the house, Scout and Dill following me, and put my entire hand on the house. Not waiting for any response from the house, I ran away faster that I had ever done before, Scout and Dill hot on my heels.

I took Scout to her first day of school today. Dill had just left last week, and I was already beginning to miss him. Scout sure did seem happy about going to school. I had never seen her more ecstatic. When we got to school, I had to break some news to her that I was deciding on the way there whether or not tell her. I told her that at recess we couldn't play together, but I didn't tell her because it would have been embarrassing me in front of my friends. She was a little upset upon hearing this, but I reassured here that we still play together at home. So we parted in our different directions toward class.

At morning break, I made my way over to where Scout was playing. When she saw me, her face brightened and a smile came onto her face. But when I asked how things were going, her smile disappeared. This irked me, so asked what was wrong. She told me of her morning, and of her teacher, Miss Caroline, had told her to stop reading and writing at home. I had heard about Miss Caroline, and that she had learned a new way to teach from going to college. She wasn't indigenous to Maycomb, and didn't understand our culture. The bell rang and we went to class.

At lunch, I found Scout rubbing a boy smaller than her into the dirt in the yard. I told her to stop because it wasn't fair that she was bigger. But she replied that he was almost as old as me. The boy was Walter Cunningham. Apparently Scout had gotten in trouble from Miss Caroline when Walter didn't have a lunch, and Scout tried to explain it that he was a Cunningham. The Cunninghams were farmers, and were greatly affected by the Dust Bowl, and the Stock Market Crash. They didn't have any money, and at most times, no food. But still they persevered through the rough times. I remember when Atticus helped out Mr. Cunningham with legal stuff, that he wasn't able to pay us with money, but instead with food and firewood during the winter. My father said that what he gave us was more that enough, but we were grateful because we didn't have much either. When finding out who the boy Scout was beating up, I offered him over to our house for dinner.

Walter and my father got right into talking like business men about farming. Calpurina, our maid, supplied Walter with almost all the food he could eat. When he asked for maple syrup, Cal handed it over, and Walter's food was swimming in syrup. Scout had an outburst about Walter eating all of our food, and Cal dragged her out into the kitchen to scold her. I'm not sure what Cal told her, but the next minute, Scout came back, got her food, and exited toward the kitchen. We finished lunch and went back to school.

The Woman Warrior Review (Extra Credit)

The Woman Warrior
By: Maxine Hong Kingston
Reviewed by Ben H
The Woman Warrior, by Maxine Hong Kingston, is a historical fiction novel about a Chinese’s immigration experience. It is about a Chinese immigrant to America, with a mix of fantasies and ghosts, which makes the book confusing due to some of the story real and some of the story fake. The way Kingston shows her story is that everything to her is clear and understandable in China. But in America, everything is more complex and confusing. When she is in America, everyone that is not in her family is a ghost, which alters the story in a way, and makes you wonder whether you’re reading the truth of the story, or the fantasy part.
Maxine Kingston never lived in America, she was born during WW2, when her mother had already immigrated to America. The Woman Warrior turns into a story about her mother’s life in China, and experiences in America, before it goes back to Kingston’s life. Her life involves the Laundromat where the work as a family, there house where they all live, the school that kids tease and discriminate them due to race, and the relatives in China whom they must send money to, to support them.
I would recommend The Woman Warrior to anybody that is a teenager and older, and can sit and read a book for a very long time. If you are the type of person who can’t sit still for more than thirty minutes, I would not suggest that you read this book. But if you are able to sit still for at least two hours, you would be able to delve into the pages to discover the life of an immigrant, and her fantasies. The Woman Warrior is a slow-paced book with low action, and will take a while to read and comprehend.
My personal opinion of The Woman Warrior is that it is a good book for those who like to read. Reading isn’t my favorite thing to do, and I struggled to keep my eyes open while reading The Woman Warrior. It is also not the type of book that I would prefer to read, although there were some fantasy parts that interested me. But I don’t think I would read this story again, I’ve read it once and I’ve had my share.
As far as historical fiction stories go about an immigrant go, The Woman Warrior is one that will stick out. It has different ingredients of writing style with real life emotions, and fantasy ideas. Some parts will keep you hooked, while others will put you to sleep. Overall, The Woman Warrior, is a fine book.

New Americans Project Reflection

New Americans Project Reflection

Literature Circles and Blogs
The book I read for the lit circles was The Woman Warrior, by Maxine Hong Kingston. It was about a Chinese immigrant who saw everyone in America as a ghost. This made the book a little more interesting and confusing because half of it was real, and half of it was unreal. Maxine didn’t actually see the ghosts, but referred to the people in America as ghosts. I think that this made it interesting because other books are a little boring about how the immigrant had to come to America, but this book had a little bit more action in it to make the story more exciting. I was glad that I chose this book because it had the action parts of it, but most of it was really hard to understand because I didn’t know if the story was true or false.
What I learned from The Woman Warrior, was about the Chinese culture. I learned small things such as woman not being able to do things that men could do to be successful. Almost the only way a woman could be well known would’ve been to becoming a warrior. This is a large difference from American culture because here in America almost everyone has an equal chance at success, and it doesn’t make a difference whether or not you’re a boy or girl. From my group, I learned that I wasn’t the only one who was confused with the book. My group members also had a hard time comprehending whether or not the story was real of fake.
After participating in the literature circles, I think that something that could be added next time would be to have more group meetings. I liked meeting in person with my group rather than doing all of the work online in blogs. I prefer meeting in person because with blogs it is a little hard to keep track of when to post and respond, and if your group member even responded. I think that some meeting could be done on the internet, but maybe every other meeting would be with your group in person. I think that meeting in person would also improve, because on-line, you can’t see facial expressions, or tone of voices from the blog posts. Whereas when you’re directly facing the person, you can get a larger understanding of what you are saying.
While doing the blog posts assignments, I enjoyed them a little because I prefer to type something over hand-writing it. By writing on blogs, it takes less class time to communicate, and it is also easier to access. I think that by blogging, it can be more efficient and effective, but I don’t think that blog posts should be done for every meeting. Even though I did not have many problems with the blogging, I would’ve preferred to do some meetings in person with our group.
I learned that my literature group mates viewed the story almost the same as me. They were also confused about the story where I was, so I think that our entire group was on the same level in terms of understanding the story. I think that they might have viewed it differently than me also, because since I am Chinese, I already understand some of the culture. But my other group members didn’t quite know why the characters did a particular tradition, so sometimes they asked me to tell them what exactly they were doing and why. Otherwise, we all viewed the book in the same perspective.

Art and Literature
Part of the New Americans Project, was to make a painting that was based off of the literature book you read. There were six different themes to choose from for the painting. We could either paint a specific scene that struck us, show a cultural component in the book, paint our interpretation of the book, recreate a famous painting with a them of the book you read, show a theme from the novel, or make a new book cover. I chose to recreate a famous painting for my art piece. I recreated Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh, but incorporated a Chinese theme in it. In the sky I made a dragon and fireworks, and tried to Van Gogh’s style with the swirling brushstrokes. At the bottom I created a small village with Chinese houses, and made the brushstrokes lines to match the style. With these three main components, I incorporated The Woman Warrior’s culture, with Vincent Van Gogh’s painting style.
I tried to make painting so that there was an obvious connection between the book, and the painting Starry Night. I think that I made that connection because the people who I have shared my art with said that they thought it looked like Starry Night, before I told them that it was supposed to be like that. My peers also agreed that my painting definitely had a Chinese theme because of the dragon, houses, and fireworks.
Overall, I think that my painting came out great. I am “artistically challenged,” so I don’t have high expectations for my art. Although I think that my painting is one of the best I have painted. It isn’t the best one that was created, but it certainly isn’t the worst one either.
One thing I would’ve changed to my art piece would be the well in the lower left hand corner. I rushed through that part a little, so there is a white spot that I didn’t paint. I would also change the color of the houses, because I was unaware at the time that the brown needed to be mixed with another color, and the paint turned out to be a little chunky. The brown paint didn’t ruin my painting, but I think that if I had mixed the paint with another color, then it would appear nicer. I think I would change all of the houses in general, because they were the last thing that I did for my art piece, so I didn’t take my time on them and put in a complete effort like I did for the top half of my painting.
From creating this art piece, I learned how to incorporate tow different styles. I made the painting style Van Gogh’s, but I made the theme from the book. Prior to this project, I didn’t think that I was too great at art, but now from this piece, it is building confidence for me. I also learned that I am not a complete fail when it come to creating art pieces that should symbolize and be recognizable, because this is probably one of the first art pieces of mine that didn’t look abstract. Although it is not one hundred percent purely my original art, I am still proud of my work.

Interview Process with Participant, and Gift
The largest part of The New Americans project was interviewing and meeting an immigrant from another country. There were three interviews that were to be conducted, one by email, phone, and an in-person and interview. The in-person interview was required, and the other two interviews could be done by phone or email. I interviewed a lady from Argentina, who immigrated here in 1990. At first, it was hard to get a hold of her because her computer didn’t work, and she wasn’t able to get my email. But after that, the interviews went well. My in-person interview went very well, and I was able to ask all the questions I needed, and got all the responses too, within an hour. I wasn’t too nervous because I am used to speaking in front of a large audience, so that skill helped me out in the interviews.
I didn’t particularly like that we had to conduct three interviews. I though that one would probably adequate. I am not sure why we had to do three, but am sure that our teacher, Ms. Abbassi, had her reasons. I was the most comfortable with the email, because in text you can’t see facial expressions, or hear voices. I am probably the least comfortable using the phone than any other means of communication because I don’t always know what to say on the phone, and sometimes I freeze up. Also I don’t trust my phone manners that well, so I don’t know how to start off a conversation. In-person, I feel confident because it is easier to start a conversation because you know who you are talking to, whereas on the phone or e-mail you don’t always know. You have a good idea of who you are contacting, but it isn’t always one hundred percent positive.
In my first interview, I wasn’t able to get many answers because my interviewee’s computer wasn’t working to view the e-mail I sent. In the second interview, I learned that she had to leave everything she had behind. The only things she took with her to America were her three year old son, and the close on her back. She left all of her belonging and family. I also learned that she had lived in a lot of different parts of Argentina due to her father being in the military. From the third and final interview, I learned the differences between Argentina and America. She said one of the largest ones was the time. In Argentina, work starts at 8AM, and goes until noon. The entire work force shuts down until 4PM, and doesn’t stop until 8PM. This is a huge difference because the average American eats dinner between 5 and 7PM. But in Argentina, they might eat dinner around 8:30 or 9PM. I also learned that dancing is a large part in Argentinean culture, and that my interviewee is still able to practice that tradition here in Balboa Park with the Argentinean Club.
From interviewing an immigrant from another country, it makes me truly glad that I live in America, and that I was born here. I am glad, because there are many hardships that people had to go through in their home country, before coming here. In a lot of cultures, it appears that if you break a law, your family shuts you out, and they will no longer help you. That is the main reason why my interviewee came to America, because her family wouldn’t help her anymore after she had a child.
Creating the gift for my interviewee was definitely a challenge for me. Since they were all art projects, they weren’t my area of expertise. I do not consider myself a good artist, and I like to take the easy way out in work, so I chose to make a painting for my interviewee. I don’t think it came out that good, but I also did not really want to create any of the options for the gift. What I made her was a painting of Argentina, and the cities that she had lived in when she lived in Argentina. Surrounding Argentina, I put different cultural items, such as the Argentinean flag, and people dancing. I created this piece, because I thought it would represent her, and I wasn’t sure of what else I could make.
Overall, I thought that some of this project was fun, but it was all a lot of work. I enjoyed the reading part of this project, but the painting part wasn’t as fun. I think that there was a lot of work, and not enough time to do it all, especially since we had exhibition night coming up, so there wasn’t much time to work on other projects. If I got to do this project again, I would definitely try to get everything done on time, and use my time more effectively and efficiently. This project was a great experience, but to be truthful, I wouldn’t want to do it again.

Lake Hodges Pictures

The Woman Warrior Post #6

Quote #1: "...Fresh-off-the-Boat's, as the Chinese-American kids at school called the young immigrants." Said by the author on page 225, paragraph six.
Significance: This quote is significant because the Chinese-Americans are stereotyping. I think that it is interesting that the kids are being racist to their own ethnicity, and I think that at one time their parents were "FOBs." I also think this is important because kids shouldn't be stereotyping, or anybody for that matter.
Connection: I can connect to this because sometimes some of my friends make racist jokes or comments. Sometimes you can't control it and it just slips, but I think that people should try harder to let things like that be said.
Question #1: Have you ever stereotyped your own race? Why, and what was it?

Quote #2: "I've stopped checking 'bilingual' on job applications." Said by the author on page 239, paragraph one.
Significance: I chose this quote because it shows that she is now pretty much Americanized. She feels as though she doesn't understand or talk Chinese anymore, because she has been a little outlawed in her society. I think that it is important because everybody in the US should remember and practice their original culture.
Connection: I think that I would feel the same way if I wanted to get rid of my culture, and forget it all. I would definitely stop checking a bilingual box even if I knew the language, but didn't feel that I deserved to know it.
Question #2: How would you feel if you decided to get rid of your heritage? Would you look back on it and regret it, or would you continue looking forward?

The Woman Warrior Post #5

Quote #1: "It was when I found out I had to talk that school became a misery, that the silence became a misery." Said by the author on page 193, paragraph two.
Significance: This is significant because it show that the immigrant students didn't like to talk in school. There was another quote earlier that said she did stuff because it made the other students laugh. This is important because it means that she was doing stuff in school, and she didn't know it because she didn't understand.
Connection: I can connect to this because when I was little, I was shy and didn't want to say or talk at all. I wasn't as shy as her because I would say stuff in class when I had to, but I preferred not to talk. I think I didn't talk because I couldn't always understand what the teacher was saying even though we both spoke the same language.
Question #1: Have you ever been in a situation where you are the only person who can't speak a language that everyone else is, and your lost and confused because you didn't know what they were talking about?

Quote #2: "But I knew that they did not understand. They thought that we were beggars without a home in who lived in the back of the laundry. They felt sorry for us." Said by that author on page 199, paragraph one.
Significance: This is significant because the drugstore owner were giving the family because they didn't understand them. The mother wanted the candy so that the bad spirits would go away, and when the drugstore owners gave them the candy, the mother thought that the owners understood why the family needed it. But the author knows that the drugstore owners don't understand the Chinese culture, but gave them the candy anyways because they felt sorry for them.
Character Judgement: I think that this quote shows that the mom is not very understanding in how America works. American people usually don't understand other cultures to well, but the mother thinks that they do, because the store owners gave them the free candy.
Question #2: Have you been in a situation when people gave you stuff because they thought you were poor and couldn't afford stuff?

The Woman Warrior Post #4

Quote #1: "... Brave Orchid took a day off to wait at the San Francisco International Airport for the plant that was bringing her sister to the Untied States. She had not seen Moon Orchid for thirty years." Said by the narrator on page 131, paragraph one.
Significance: This is significant because the mom is finally getting to see her sister again. It shows that when people immigrate, they don't necessarily immigrate all together at once, as a family. One part of the family comes over, and then the next, so there's a gap, and you might be missing a family member for a while.
Connection: I can connect to this, because when my mom immigrated here, her grandfather came over many years earlier, before she came. But her mom and sister and brother all came at the same time. I think they do this so that they are like a test to see if it's okay, and so that by the time the rest of the family comes, they will be successful, and not suffer here.
Question #1: How would you feel if you got to see one of your close family members finally after thirty years? Why?

Quote #2: "Immigration Ghosts were stamping the papers. The travellers crowded along some conveyor belts to have their luggage searched." Said by the narrator on page 133, paragraph six.
Significance: I found this quote interesting, because they are calling everyone except each other ghosts. The Immigration Ghosts, is just an immigration officer, yet they say he is a ghost. This quote is also significant because even when they were getting off the plane, they had to have their bags searched.
Connection: I can connect to this because sometimes it takes forever to get off a plane, especially if they are searching bags. I could imagine that Moon Orchid and Brave Orchid would be exhausted after waiting so long.
Question #2: Why do you think they call the people in America Ghosts?

The Woman Warrior Post #3

Quote #1: "On Ellis Island the official asked her, 'What year did your husband cut off his pigtail?' and it terrified her when she couldn't remember." Said by the author on page 113, the first paragraph.
Significance: This is significant because it show the types of questions that were asked to the immigrants on Ellis Island. Asking when your husband cut off his pigtails is also a slightly racist question because they think that the men wanted to grow out their hair, when they were doing it because of the communists. I also found it interesting that the author's mom went through Ellis Island instead of Angel Island, because I think she came to the US in the thirties.
Connection: I can connect to this because today in class when we did a simulation of coming into class, we were interrogated. I was asked questions that made a little sense, but other people were asked questions that were bizarre such as how many windows there are in the classroom.
Question #1: If you were an immigrant coming to the US, and they ask you a question that you should know the answer to, but don't, how would you feel?

Quote #2: Among the sellers with ropes, cages, and water tanks, were the sellers of little girls. Said by narrator on page 93, paragraph two.
Significance: This is significant because in America, you don't see girls being sold on the streets as slaves. But in China, most girls aren't wanted, and are sold as slaves. It shows the enormous culture difference between the US and other nations.
Connection: I can relate to this because sometimes I have felt unwanted, and that is probably what the girls felt when they were standing on the street. I have never seen anything like that except in movies, but I think that I have felt what they did.
Question #2: How would you feel if you were being sold on the street as a slave because your parents didn't want you?

The Woman Warrior Post #2

Quote #1: "My American life has been such a disappointment." Said by the author, on page 54 on paragraph 4.
Significance: This is significant because it shows that not all immigrants have a better life here. It also shows that many immigrants have really high expectations, and when the author came to America, it was not what she thought it would be. It is a challenge to them because they thought that it would be really good place and wouldn't have to worry about much, but in reality it is much more challenging.
Personal Connection: I can connect to this by coming to High Tech Middle. I didn't start at the beginning of 6th grade, and the school I came from a harder school. I thought that HTM would be easier and more fun, and I was half correct. It was more fun than my old school, and proved to be a greater challenge than I expected.
Question #1: What has ever happened to you where you expected one thing and got another which was harder and worse than what you expected?

Quote #2: "It's not just the stupid racists that I have to do something about, but the tyrants who for whatever reason can deny my family food or work. My job is my only land." Said by the author on page 58, paragraph 6.
Significance: This is significant because many people in America are discriminating against them because they are Chinese. I think that this is still occurring in America today, even though the country has changed. The people who are discriminating don't have a reason, and they're just being racist. This is important for people today to change from being racist.
Personal Connection: I can connect to this because I have seen and heard racist comments before, and some of them are a little disturbing. I think being racist isn't funny, and it's just plain wrong. I can also connect to this quote because people have treated me differently because of being Chinese. It's not always in a bad way though, such as everyone automatically saying I am good at math. It's not a lie, but it feels like people are judging me because I am Asian.
Question #2: Have you ever been treated differently because of your race, religion, or how you looked? What was it, and how did you manage it?

Field Trip Reflection

From Haven to Home
Haven to Home was an exhibit about Jewish people immigrating here to America. It was not about the Holocaust, but just a timeline of Jews immigrating here. The purpose of this exhibit was to inform people about immigrant Jews. I learned from this exhibit that most of the Jewish immigrants came from Brazil when it was owned by Holland. Once Jews got to America they were often treated like slaves because of their religion. The first 23 Jews who came to New Amsterdam were not welcomed their because of their race. To escape from the slavery, they set up synagogues and used them as an underground railroad. In 1787 when George Washington became president, many Jews looked to him to confirm that they could stay in America.
A problem that Jewish people had in America was being able to become president. To become president you must be sworn in on a bible. The problem being that Jews didn’t read the bible. Congress passed a law called “The Jew Bill,” which made it so that Jews could run for office.
The Jewish people in the South agreed with slavery like most of the other whites living there, and helped fight in the Civil War in 1861. In 1880, Jews started to emigrate from Europe in search of being able to practice their own religion. When World War Two started, there were many groups that formed for anti- Jews, and anti- Catholics. After the war, Jews fought for their political rights, and once having them, fought in the Civil Rights Movement for African- American people.
In America, Jewish people lived in their own “Synagogue Communities,” where many Jews would live in a neighborhood where there was a synagogue. Jews also helped pioneer new communities in America, and created new genres in pop-culture. Jews made their own guilds where people with the same trade such as engineering, or electrical work would stay together to work. The first Jew in congress was in 1841, and Harry Truman was the first in the United Nations to recognize Israel as a country.

Children of Immigrants
Photo: China Moon Festival, in Chinatown, Chicago, 1997. This picture is of a young Asian girl and her family in traditional clothes. There is a man to her left holding a sword, and in the background there is a regular store. I chose this photo because it is interesting how a community can dress up and celebrate like they would in their home country, but there are Americanized stores in the background.
Quote: “When I left my country Vietnam I didn’t know that I would probably never come back again. I was just ten years old. I knew my life would begin from this moment.”
–Ngoe Nguyen, Vietnam. I chose this quote because it gives me a good feel for how it would be to leave your country, and know that you are not going to live there again, but in the future, you hope you will have a better life. I think this is how my uncle felt when he left China when he was only seven or eight. What spoke to me about it is that immigrant children must be afraid to leave their country not knowing what is lying ahead.
Essay: The Untold Story of a Chinese- American. This essay was about a boy’s father who immigrated here, and had what he had to face and put up with to get here. His dad had seen death, suicide attempts, robbery, being called names, and giving up all he had, just to get to America. Once he was here, his dad had a hard time finding a job. The boy’s education was not as good because he had to get past a racial barrier. But once he got past that in elementary school, he had good grades and made friends. This essay tells me about the ordeal people go through to get here, and I find myself lucky that I was born here.

The Woman Warrior Post #1

Quote One: "... Your father and his brothers and your grandfather and his brothers and your aunt's new husband sailed for America, the Golden Mountain." Said by them mom on page three.
Significance: This quote is significant because all the men in the family are leaving for America. They said that America was "the Golden Mountain," which makes me believe that they think anything could happen in America, or it was the best place. It is also significant that the men are leaving because in American and Chinese culture, the men usually establish control and order in the family.
Connection: I can relate to this because before my mom immigrated here to the United States, her came to America to set up her and her family's life here. I think that in a lot of cultures, the men come to America first before the rest of the family, so everyone who had a part of their family immigrate here in the past century, did the same thing.
Question One: What do you think would happen to a family if the father went to America to start a new life, but never came back?.

Quote Two: "I would have to grow up a woman warrior." Said by the author, on page 24.
Significance: This quote shows that the only way a woman could be known in China would be for being a warrior. Most of the people that are well known are men, and woman don't have as much of a chance at being famous and popular. I think this is the reason why she wants to become a woman warrior. She was also inspired by Mu Lan, so I think that she wanted to be like her.
Character Judgment: This quote shows that the author wants to be a well known person for a good thing, and wants to make her way into history. This also shows that she is determined because it is hard to become a warrior.
Question Two: Why do you think it is hard to become famous if you are a woman?

Immigration Reflection

Immigration Reflection
An immigrant is a person who immigrated to another country. Immigrating is moving everything you own and yourself to a different country to start a new life. A lot of people have immigrated to the United States, which is how it made up the majority of its population. Immigrants often come from a poorer country than the one that they are moving to. Some immigrants move from a country to escape the government's power or torture.
My mom and her family immigrated here to the United States. She came here because life was getting hard in China where she was born. If she and her family didn't immigrate here, I probably wouldn't be alive today. Most of America's population is made up of immigrants, so immigration affects all of us.
As I said before, my mom's side of the family immigrated here. Many of my classmates' families came here from other countries. Immigration makes our community more diverse, and most of my friends are immigrants or their family immigrated here.
I think that a lot of immigrants come to the United States because of the freedom we have here. The government is good here compared to other countries that are ruled by dictators. Many people believe that a new life will be better for them here, and that is another reason why they immigrate here. In other countries, the people must be a certain religion, or they can’t do what they want, whereas here, we have it as a basic right.
I see that immigrants from Mexico have affected San Diego. First, San Diego is a Spanish name, which is Mexico’s primary language. San Diego is affected by Mexican immigrants a lot because we are located near the border. This makes the city more diverse, but it can also be a problem because of illegal immigrants who want to come to the United States. I think that immigration has also affected parts of San Diego’s crime. Things that are legal in other countries, but not in the US, are being practiced here, and that puts the crime rate up.