Discussion 12: WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM THIS? Due July 2

From the work of one of your classmates:

 

1) Choose a couple of episodes that took place before and after the break-up of Pascal's gang. Most likely you chose them because they affected you deeply. What was the nature of your reaction? (Ex: sad, angry, stunned, sympathetic, cynic.). Separate paragraph: what does it say about you? Did you find out something new about yourself in your reactions?

 

I liked the book a lot. I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions while reading it. I feel like I relived the life of the main character, Pascal, while reading it as well as getting to know him better after each chapter.

At such a young age, Pascal made a decision to leave his mother and homeland to go to a foreign country. It doesn’t matter if he left to escape the poverty or to find a bright future, he made a serious decision by himself.

I can relate to him because I also moved away from my mother at age of 15 for a better life full of opportunities.

Pascal wasn’t afraid of any hard work which proves that most of the immigrants are much tolerant than native citizens. I felt proud of Pascal not giving up and moving forward no matter what. Being new in the country and not knowing the language could be very difficult. However, there are advantages of it such as working much harder towards the dreams and learning new language.

 

  The other part in the book I found fascinating was when Matteo welcomed a stranger to stay with the gang as long as he needed. Even during tough times, having no job, no food, no suitable place to live, people managed to stay sympathetic to others. Although I was confused why Matteo made such a generous act, I find it hard to believe people would actually do such an act toward a stranger.

I personally wouldn't be able to do so. And it is simply because I wouldn’t feel safe inviting a stranger to my home. For me trust takes years to build. But I also understand that everyone is different and have their own views and choices to make.

However, I wasn't surprised that the stranger robbed Matteo. I was actually waiting for something like that to happen. I unfortunately have no trust in people and for worse or for better I prefer living that way.

 

I felt amazed, proud and pleasantly shocked by Pascal’s determination of not giving up his dream. He wanted to achieve success in a foreign country. He tried to learn to play mandolin and taught himself to write poetry. He was high motivated no matter how bad everything was around him. He took risk by quitting a job which fed him and started to write poems and sending it to various magazines and newspapers.

Even though Pascal didn't have any luck, he didn't give up but tried to encourage himself every day. I could be wrong but I don't think any person would be able to do what Pascal did. It takes a lot of effort, patience, inner strength and will power to fight for what you believe until the end. Bravo! I cannot express how happy I was to find out that from a young fellow who was afraid to be punished for something he didn't do, Pascal grew into becoming a strong hearted man.

 

COMMENT: compare this to your work. Does your work measure up?

What can you learn from this example? This is very, very simple (but not simplistic, indeed), very linear, smooth and sensible. It mixes DATA (examples) and relates them IMMEDIATELY to the emotional reactions of the writer.

These are normal, every-day emotional responses. One can sense the maturity and solid judgment of this person, and the candid ability to look at him/herself.