Intense story!

Initially after reading The Gangster We Are All Looking For, i was so confused. I kind of got some parts but nothing very deep. But even though I didn't understand every aspect of the book, i did feel the emotions. All i gotta say is that they were so intense. The violence constantly going on from the war and the domestic disagreements between Ba and Ma, cannot go unnoticed. They honestly got so bad that the narrator had to seek refuge in the waters of her bathtub, which is something i probably would've done in her situation. For me, the water has always been this peaceful and calming medium for me to just soak it all up. So i really do get where she is coming from with her comfort with water. I'm not going to go onto say that the water was a symbol for home like what we've been talking about in class, but i sincerely believe that it is a symbol for refuge. Where did the refugees flee towards, where does the narrator find solace, and were does the entire family just exist in peace near: the water. The water that is undeniably tumultuous but yet doesn't it just take everything that the tides throw there way? The water changes forms, has unspeakable strength, and cools anything that comes within it. Water is theirs (and mines) sanctuary. That was just something i thought about in class during our discussions but didn't have the nerve to say out loud.

And Dao, for your essay on the Namesake, I really think you got something there. It is definitely an approach never thought of taking. I think that his relationships never seem to last forever because its not a reflection of him really but of the women he sees. Ruth dumps him after her stay in London, Maxine dumps him after he becomes distant and different from how she knew him after Ashoke died, and Moushimi cheats on him. So just by extension, his only real fault is in the type of women that he chooses to see. They all have a common thread, of being strong, independent, educated, motivated, and proactive women. They have very strong characteristics that some may say are masculine qualities, somethings i think he lacks. And that's why his relationships don't work because he constantly puts himself in situations where he is over-powered and left in the end just standing there, unable to do anything. At least in my opinion.

And also, thank you so much for sharing your dad's refugee story with us to put things in better clarity, at least for me, because I honestly have never encountered anyone who has or is related to someone who went through such a traumatizing experience. That is really INTENSE, and couldn't imagine going through such hardships. But that is just a major account of the strength of your family members to overcome and persevere through that all.

-Precious