Imagine getting pregnant and having your neighbors come into your house and destroy all of your belongings. Although her aunt cheated on her husband and had sex with someone else, she did not deserve this humiliation. We have all done things we are not proud of and it doesn't feel good when we know we messed up, but people continue to judge us for it. This type of judgement is hard on anybody and can make people do things they normally wouldn't do. "The next morning when I went for water, I found her and the baby plugging up the family well."(5) What we say and do to other's can have a huge impact on their lives. Her aunt felt it was better for her to end her and her child's life than suffer through the humiliation and pain brought on by not only her village, but also her family. "Don't let your father know what I told you. He denies her." (5) I cannot imagine disowning my brother. No matter what he does or whatever the mistakes he might make I will always be by his side. Family is supposed to stick by your side through thick and thin, during the good times and the bad times. Whenever I start having children, I can never imagine telling them, "Don't humiliate us."(5) Unfortunately, this is likely something that a lot of kids can relate to while they were growing up. I am so blessed to know that I have parents that will always be by my side no matter what. "Whenever life puts you in a situation you don't want to face, just close your eyes and go back to the time when your mom held you in her arms and said don't worry my child everything will be alright." (unknown)"At last I saw that I too had been in the presence of great power, my mother talking story.(20)
Growing up hearing stories of powerful women, princesses, and fearless warriors made me feel like I could do anything. Along with hearing these stories, I also had my parents telling me that I could be and do anything I wanted to do. Growing up in a culture where I have the ability to decide what I want to do and what I want to major in is so refreshing. I feel for everyone who cannot do what they truly want to do, because of their parents or their culture. "When we Chinese girls listened to the adults talk story, we learned we failed if we grew up to be but wives or slaves. "(19) I cannot imagine growing up having the expectation that if I'm not a wife that takes care of her family and the house, then I have failed. This is a heartbreaking reality that so many people have gone through. I have enjoyed taking this class and getting to know everyone in it. Getting the opportunity to hear everyone talk about their childhood, families, and life experiences has been such a rewarding experience. I have gained so much knowledge about different cultures just from listening and being actively engaged. "If you're not listening, you're not learning." (LBJ)
