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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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#song

Billy Joel’s “Vienna”

Billy Joel’s “Vienna”

Slow down, you crazy child

You’re so ambitious for a juvenile

But then if you’re so smart, then tell me

Why are you still so afraid?

Where’s the fire, what’s the hurry about?

You’d better cool it off before you burn it out

You’ve got so much to do

And only so many hours in a day

But you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You’re gonna kick off before you even

Get halfway through

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you

Slow down, you’re doing fine

You can’t be everything you want to be

Before your time

Although it’s so romantic on the borderline tonight

Tonight,

Too bad but it’s the life you lead

You’re so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need

Though you can see when you’re wrong, you know

You can’t always see when you’re right. You’re right

You’ve got your passion, you’ve got your pride

But don’t you know that only fools are satisfied?

Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

Slow down, you crazy child

And take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile

It’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You’re gonna kick off before you even get half through

Why don’t you realize, Vienna waits for you

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

MY ANALYSIS & ITS RELATIONSHIP TO MY IDENTITY

The song “Vienna,” by Billy Joel revives the carefree child-like nature that young adults and growing teenagers often lose. At ages 18-25, we are bombarded by expectations to already understand ourselves enough to plan out a future with only about a decade or two of life experiences under our belts.

As children, we lived each day in its own entirety, feeling fulfilled by the brand new twenty-four hours to play in. The lyrics, “Vienna waits for you,” is meant to alleviate any burden people feel when simply feeling lost, confused or rushed in a world filled with people who seem to know where they are going. With social media being so prominent in our life styles, it is easy to compare our lives with someone considered more successful and to feel defeated by what others have accomplished. He advises the audience to focus on themselves; that when they feel like they have hit rock bottom, to soak in each day and to achieve any little task with effort.

In high school, I felt like I wanted to achieve more than I can handle. I jumped from idea to idea: wanting to study environmental science, research chronic disease, become a screenwriter, or be in a band. Each of these fantasies had engulfed my entire mind and sometimes, it was all I could ever talk about. I felt defeated every time I mentioned a dream that did not meet my parents’ ideal criteria. With their opinions in mind, I was often undecided of what to study or even what to do with my free time. I felt lost and anxious but this song reminded me that I am still a young student who is still learning. It was a reminder not to worry so much as to where I am headed because I will end up where I belong. Joel’s mixture of encouragement and advice grounded the doubt I had for my future and taught me to practice putting in effort in all I plan to do, and to take each day one step at a time.

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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IDENTITY BOX PROJECT! October 9, 2018

I am usually perceived as a quiet person because I keep to myself most of the time. I can be seen as angry or anxious as Rick and Morty’s facial expressions vividly show. I am also see as stand offish as I can be reserved when I feel awkward or out of place.

These adjectives may be true at times but that is not all there is to me.

I grew up around introverted activities because my parents were too busy when I was a child to place me in an activity that requires communicating and working with others. I grew up watching anime and studio ghibli films that launched my interest in writing stories and doodling.

I also play the ukulele, sing, and play the keyboard. I do not play as much as I would like to because I am so busy with school but in the future, I would like to learn the bass or drums. My favorite song to play on the piano is Oh Darling by The Beatles.

Another trait that may appear to be unexpected is that I tend to be impulsive with my decisions because of my indecisiveness combined with anxiety. My hairbrush represents the times I decided to cut my own hair because I was going through a rough time in high school. I went from cutting my own layers, trying to even it out for about 2 years, shaving an undercut and cutting my own bangs.

I cherish my family and friends, they have taught me to put all my effort in creating fulfilling relationships with others while maintaining integrity and honesty to myself because I tend to change my personality depending on who I am with.

I put my religious bracelets in there to remind me of my roots. I grew up catholic and although I am not religious anymore, it is a reminder to always have faith in my family and myself.

I also have this religious necklace that is reminder of my family back home in the Philippines. I value the tight community they have there, it’s not common for people to isolate themselves like in California. They eat breakfast and dinner together as a family and I want to bring that sense of belonging and community here.

Lastly, is my turtle keychain. I love turtles, I used to have two when I was a child. The back of the keychain says the Philippines because I bought it as a souvenir. It is a symbol of my roots and a remembrance of that vacation, which I grew the most.

#identitybox

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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SPPRE #1 My First Reflection of College

My indecisiveness has lead me close to my goals but at the same time has left me stranded far from what I thought were my ambitions. Before making the huge decision of choosing CSUN, I was doubtful of my belonging here as I wasn’t sure of the career path I wanted and the resources that would launch me towards that path. I was unsure of myself. I felt hopeless and aimless but I decided to choose a class that intrigued me and was never offered in my high school, Asian American Studies.

It was at first glance that I knew I would fall in love with the subject of culture but what came creeping behind my excitement was a myriad of panic and anxiety attacks. It wasn’t until I began working on my summer assignment that I realized I had not written seriously in quite some time and my habit of procrastination combined with perfectionism played the instigators in my breakdowns. As I read the Michelle Obama portraiture article a few times over to understand its’ meaning well enough to analyze, my mind raced through thoughts picking out different definitions that often contrasted with one another. I felt as if I was unable to handle my ideas because they were so abstract and unorganized that it felt misplaced to fix them into my final draft. I went to my friend’s house frantically explaining the premise of the article, and communicated my ideas in jumbles. She helped me view my ideas with depth as she asked me questions about my main topics and it was a self-realization moment for me. My friend, whom I rely on too much, was moving to UC Santa Barbara and I knew I was going to have trouble aligning our schedules together when I had trouble with papers and life overall. I view my friend as an astonishing writer and much more but I had an actualization where I knew I had to grow up. I knew that this class was going to be a struggle for me if I did not know how to ask for help, or how to manage my time correctly. I could already recognize I was going to have a rough time, but for the better.

Before diving into Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman, the class was introduced to many types of indoctrination that surprised us all into silence. First, we were shown the meaning behind Curious George and then told to picture a scientist. Unsurprisingly, the entire class made identical drawings but the conversation afterwards lead us all uncomfortable but intrigued by what has been drilled into our minds without our notice. The uncomfortableness I felt by what has been taught so suddenly made me feel as excited as a child who discovered treasure in the sand when he was told not to dig around. The discussion of diversity felt relieving to me as I grew up within a predominantly Caucasian high school. Especially, looking around the classroom with those similar to my skin tone and background felt inspiring to me as we talked about these issues so deeply rooted into our history. I felt like it would not have had the same effect if I was surrounded with different people. The profound lesson that revealed what true diversity was in a class full of color restored my hope in learning about my culture without shame or embarrassment. I used to be afraid of participating because I felt indifferent to those around me who spoke English eloquently because of their English-speaking parents, and I felt embarrassed of my culture that seemed so different from others. It was after this conversation and becoming familiar with those around me that I felt a sense of belonging and growth to come.

Lastly, the most memorable memory of these past five weeks was the Asian American Dreams presentations. I was caught off-guard when I was given so little time to prepare for the upcoming week. I felt a heavy weight of anxiety and panic as I did so little as to think about the speech. As presentations went by, I relaxed as I got to know the classes’ stories that were so recognizable to me. Although that peaceful calmness was temporary as I got closer to presenting my piece, after rewriting it five times, I felt my anxiety get the best of me. I started crying and felt unhappy with my “imperfect,” ideas that I gave up. I felt defeated but I stuck through with what I had already mapped out. I rehearsed with so much anxiety and fear that my ideas might come across as “ignorant,” but I already knew I would push my anxiety further if I were to “correct,” or in my mind “rewrite,” my entire speech, topic, quotes and theme. After long days of uneasiness, I finally presented my ideas to the class. It felt relieving but I was still unsatisfied with a couple of missed points and the pace of my delivery. I did feel a flash of hopelessness because the creeping thoughts of my speech being conveyed improperly floated so harshly in my mind. My reassurance exceeded its limits by the sound of an applause coming my way, and the restoration of faith in myself was rebuilt by the supporting four words of a good friend, “You did really good.”

The pictures I provided below represent my experiences from feeling anxious to unity to newly found hope. These past few weeks were glimpses of blessings in disguise. My feelings either hit the ceiling or hit the cement floor, I didn’t know what to expect. I still don’t know what to expect, I’m probably going to feel directionless again but it was because of these challenges that I was reminded of my passion for writing. It was because of my classmates’ anecdotes that the child in me wanted to pick my major, carelessly and with freedom from worry or judgement by others. It was because of my supporting friends, acquaintances and strangers that I put a little more faith in myself and more strength in my step. It was because of these past five weeks that I finally began to feel a bit more sure of myself.

This photo represents the anxiety I felt, rereading the Michelle Obama article and having to jump into writing seriously again. I chose this character from a TV show called Adventure Time, to depict the child in me learning that now is the time for her to grow up.

This photo of kids holding hands represents the unity I felt in the classroom as we discussed diversity. It was a new setting for me that I felt empowered and inspired by the subject matter and the people surrounding me.

These lantern lights are from my favorite movie Tangled. They represent the hope I felt during a dark time, and the faith I had restored in myself because of the kindness of those around me.

#sppre

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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A Danger to Identity (Seedfolks Essay)

Seedfolks is a children’s book that presents multiple characters with different ethnicities that connect through a community’s garden. While the author, Paul Fleischman, desires to teach his audience about the many sides of diversity, his method of doing so accomplishes the opposite. Instead of presenting a diverse neighborhood, he displays a surface level and generalized version of different ethnic characters. For example, Gonzalo, a young Guatemalan boy helps his family live in America because they do not speak English. The stereotype presented with his character presents an image that generalizes many Hispanic American immigrants, indicating that they are incapable of speaking English well preventing them from thriving outside of their cultural community. After reading this book, 8-11 year olds may only see stereotypical characters, instead of individuals. This may lead to the mistreatment of others because of discrimination caused by assumptions; For example assuming an African American man is dangerous, therefore avoiding any type of interaction with him. Not only is it unfair to the audience because they do not get a clear vision of diversity but also to the different ethnicities represented, because they already struggle with the common assumptions associated with their ethnicities.

The correct way of showing diversity is not only displaying different ethnicities, but also varying portrayals of the characters. For example, if the author switched the roles between Maricela and Sae Young then that would have been an unusual scene to the audience because of their famed stereotypes. It would be surprising to see Sae Young as a young pregnant lady with a bad relationship with the baby’s father because of the stigma around Asian women being submissive, innocent and the “model minority.” A similar reaction would occur when introducing Maricela as a fragile, shy lady, because of the stereotype around Hispanic women being loud and obnoxious. This image expands on the idea of diversity because it does not show a “one size fits all,” character. The individuality shown within these characters offers more dimensionality towards the character’s identity, going beyond what the reader may assume about the character based on their ethnicity.

One of the characters introduced in the beginning of the story is Gonzalo. He is a young Guatemalan boy who has to learn how to grow up quickly in order to help his family survive in America. He is shown taking phone calls for his dad, buying groceries, and talking to any English speaker that encounters his dad because his father is embarrassed of his accent. While this is certainly a real possibility in all of America, the way it is displayed in the book creates an image of helplessness, as if immigrants can not achieve anything outside of their comfortable bubble. “I have to grow up fast. They are adults but here they are babies,” (Fleischman 18). Gonzalo carries the huge responsibility of helping his family survive in America which feeds into the stereotype that Mexican-Americans can not speak enough English to be understood well. While Gonzalo might not mean any harm in his statement, the image portrayed onto his character is the hero who’s tool is his upper-hand in his speaking abilities. The bigger picture shown here is that older immigrants are in constant need of aid because they are not suitable enough to adapt to the language here because they are always surrounded by their own ethnicity.

Gonzalo also has to take care of his uncle, Tio Juan who struggles even more than Gonzalo’s father. He constantly needs to be taken care of and Gonzalo’s mother heavily worries about Tio Juan when he wanders outside of the house even though they have been living in America for the same amount of time. Even though, her grandfather has had the opportunity to familiarize himself with the neighborhood in the time he and Gonzalo’s mother has spent there, he is seen as helpless. Again, he is seen as a stereotypical Hispanic American who is unable to operate in America because he is “uneducated,” or does not know English well enough to walk place to place. Finally, when Gonzalo spots his Tio Juan, fascinated by the garden, he takes him home and they return the next day. “I realized I didn’t know anything about growing food and he knew everything. I stared at his busy fingers, then his eyes. They were focused not far away or confused. He’d changed from a baby back into a man,” (Fleischman 22). Tio Juan finally earns credibility as being a valuable asset to the family as he earns Gonzalo’s respect by planting the seeds in the garden with precise skill by his own special farming technique. While this is an enlightening moment for Gonzalo, soaking in pride for his grandfather’s skills, it has darker meaning to it. Tio Juan is essentially seen as an elderly man who needs to be helped in daily activities because he does not fit in in America, “He wandered around the apartment all day, talking to himself like a kid in a diaper… He doesn’t speak Spanish just an Indian language,” (Fleischman 19). His value is set on his labor skills and many Hispanic people in the America are seen as uneducated labor workers. Tio Juan is already seen as an incapable baby in his grandson’s eyes, and his value is earned by the labor work he is able to do. In fact, it is seen as the only activity he is exceptional at. His character could have taught Gonzalo about traditional hobbies or how to cook indigenous meals but instead the foreigner was only capable of earning his title through labor work, enforcing the idea that this is one of the stereotypical areas where you will find a Hispanic outsider.

Like all stereotypes, they come with a little bit of truth in them. The connotation around immigrants not speaking English well may come from the human nature of grouping with those who are similar to your own culture. In “People Like Us,” by David Brooks, he writes about how humans organize themselves into communities that represent themselves. For example, wealthier people have access to different interests than those with low-income, such as wine tasting or golf. It is similar with identifiable ethnic neighborhoods, Hispanics will live closer to other Hispanics forming a community and business until it becomes obvious who lives where. Although all stereotypes have some truth to them, being exposed to only these characters may cause assumptions and bias in the way people treat others. As explained in the article, “3 Reasons why Positive Stereotypes Aren’t Positive,” by Sam Killerman, even stereotypes that seem good natured such as African Americans excelling at basketball or gay people being well-dressed and sassy causes harm in the way they are perceived. It causes identity issues, where an African American man who speaks English with no accent may not entirely fit into being seen as “American,” because of his skin color but in the African American community, he may be seen as not “Black enough,” because he does not know how to play basketball.

Gonzalo and his family are portrayed as realistic immigrant families. It is harder for adults to adapt to environmental customs because if they make a mistake in the real world, it is less acceptable compared to a child coming from a different culture. The adult would be marked as rude, or they would feel discouraged from engaging in cultivating the newly found culture. In addition, many immigrant children are first generation college students in America; they are seen as independent because their families haven’t been exposed to that direction just yet. The adult characters do highlight the struggles in immigrant parents who have trouble adapting or speaking to those who speak better English because of the fear of being ridiculed or because they are not confident enough. This phenomenon is widespread but it should not be the only idea associated with the image of a minority group. The reason why showing true diversity is important is to stray away from having a solidified picture as one’s set identity. It can be damaging to the person’s opportunity at work, cause discrimination in a classroom, or hurt someone’s confidence in how they feel about themselves. They may feel compelled to learn English correctly or the dangers of acculturation in order to feel like they belong because of a stereotype that centers around the “correct,” way a person should act. Letting children view the different ethnic groups with a variety of characteristics, allows them see the the character as their individual self, without any assumptions made for the entire group of people associated with the character. Instead of watering down the many types of characteristics into a box to describe one race, widening a child’s perspective on Gonzalo and his family may make the character easier to connect with or it may open up someone’s minds to a new perspective of character concerning their race.

#essay

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY AS A COLLEGE STUDENT

Saving money as a college student can be difficult because of the many financial responsibilities school can burden a student with.

But Lo and Behold, I am here to help alleviate those stresses!

1.) First of all, if FAFSA is supplying your entire tuition and you are living at home, then do not spend all of that money on things that will not last you a long time.

For example, spending 3 grand on a combination of clothes, a puppy and a new Xbox is not worth the spending because clothes are not timeless. Many pick out clothes that are in style, and stop using certain items within a few months. A puppy may not be worth the responsibility at this time because of the new transition of college and an Xbox is an item that can be paid with earned cash.

FAFSA money is better spent on a new car or an item that will be useful to you in the long run. The rest of the unspent money should go towards a savings account, so that while the money is stored in the bank, you are earning interest.

(Also, if you have not already done so, open up a savings account. Savings accounts give a small amount of interest money each month and having a seperate account gives you boundaries on what to spend.)

2.) If you do not have a lot of money from FAFSA, be mindful of how you are eating.

Stray away from buying food at the cafeteria or vending machines, because it can become a money wasting habit.

Instead, remember to eat a whole breakfast, lunch and dinner so you will not be spending bits of money throughout the day on snacks, and remember to pack as much food from the house as possible.

3.) If you work, set a limit on how much to spend until your next paycheck.

(There is a feature on the Bank of America app that tracks what category you spend your money on and alerts you if you have spent more than what you set your budget as)

For example, if you receive your check every two weeks and work twelve dollars an hour, then set a limit on spending about one-hundred and fifty dollars for two weeks.

It puts in perspective whether or not you want to buy something because you have the money to buy it or if you actually need it.

>>>>This works for those who work and those who don’t.

Set up a budget for the categories you spend most of your money.

For Example:

Education: $75

Food: $100

Shopping and Entertainment: $75

Transportation: $100

To prevent going beyond the budget, you can set a small punishment such as not hanging out with friends after class or not being able to play a game. The amount you go overboard with is equal to the amount of time the punishment will take. For example, if you go beyond $50 on your transportation then you spend two days going straight home from school, not eating out.

24 hours x 2 = 48 about 50.

#HowTo

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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Panel Paper: America, Stop Being so Square!

The ridiculement of certain races on television may not seem like a huge issue to others because it is portrayed through the fictional stories in the media. Yellow Face, Black Face and Brown Face (which is when Caucasian actors and actresses play the role of another race often exaggerating their ethnic features) may seem like a harmless act but these depictions certainly taint the identity of immigrants in American. Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia presents an overwhelming amount of historical discrimination amongst Asian Americans that has been prevalent but highly overlooked. In history classes throughout kindergarten and high school, one would not have learned about the rising concerns of the dehumanizing Yellow Face and its effect on identity and one of the heavily distressing stereotypes that resulted in the rape and lynching of an eight-year old child, Jean Har-Kew Fewel. Zia points out that racial discrimination and prejudice against accents has caused her to part with her cultural identity, barely having knowledge of the Chinese language outside of basic phrases. The presence of stereotypes and its effects of discrimination lingers today; Their images associated with Asian Americans through the media causes shame in our culture, detaching us from a part of our identity.

As immigrants, Asian Americans already have a difficult time assimilating into American culture because of their distinct skin tone, eye shape and facial structure. After physical traits is the way a person speaks that sets them apart from others. In the beginning of chapter five, Zia explains that the foul nature and bullying her father received as a result of his thick Asian accent humiliated him into shaming his culture. “More often than feeling grateful for my American accent, I wished that I could jump into a heated exchange of rapid-fire Chinese…I’m envious of the many people I know who grew up speaking an Asian Language yet converse in English beautifully.” (Zia 110). She explains that she is grateful for maintaining the tool her father desperately wanted her to hold in order to shield her from any discrimination. Although he had good intentions, he actually shields her from a huge part of her identity.The negative stigma behind Asian and Hispanic accents presents a huge problem within many generations of immigrants. They begin to lose a part of their nature under the pressure to fit into American standards. In the article, “When an Accent Becomes an Issue,” by Raymond Hernandez, John Castillo explains his concern after being told to take an accent-reduction class, “But I have this accent. Does that mean I'm not an American? I don't know." The article later reveals, “... Attitudes towards accents often reflect other biases. Many people, for instance, view a French accent as romantic while they dismiss as incomprehensible the accents of immigrants from Asian or Latin American countries.”

The different ways America treats other races devalues America’s theme of being an open nation full of endless and equal opportunity. Instead, it aims that view towards people who appear to be more “American.” This bias towards certain accents prevents immigrants from embracing their backgrounds, and having pride in their cultures. If a child grows up to see their parents discriminated against because an accent that represents their roots, it creates a negative stigma around characteristics that specifically pertain to one’s culture. The evidence that one is different lies in the accent that is so heavily frowned upon. It creates disengages people like Helen Zia from their cultures because of the dedication towards assimilating into American culture.

Discriminating stereotypes in American media is a source of prejudice that soaks in the caricatures of Asian Americans. Yellow Face has had a long history in American media, “Until recent decades, the occasional Asian Character in a leading role was routinely performed by a white actor attempting to interpret Asian qualities...the actors’ portrayals, no matter how inauthentic were readily accepted,” (Zia 113). Helen Zia explains the stereotypes Asian Americans were associated with; from aggressive “gooks,” resulting from the Vietnam and Korean War to sexualized “geishas,” Japanese women entertainers. Asian Americans being sexualized on television and seen as innocent and obedient has lead to dangerous behavior such as the game, “Ethnic Sex Challenge.” The goal was to see how many “exotic women,” college men could take advantage of because of the explicit image that was imprinted in their minds. Another result of explicit stereotype is the rape and lynching of Jean Har-Kew Fewel. At the trial, the criminal admitted that pornography played a significant role in his behavior.

These images taint parts of our identity that causes the outside world to just view Asian Americans as their stereotypes instead of individuals. In other parts of the world, Black Face and Yellow Face is a normality in the media. In the Philippines, dark skin is commonly frowned upon because it “determines,” one’s social status. The darker the skin tone is links with how much labor work the person does; Fair skin is equal to high class and the privilege to works indoors. In Filipino television, Black Face is common and does not pose as an issue. The dark skinned characters are often exaggeratedly loud, obnoxious, poor, arrogant or evil. The stereotype infects children with the mindset that fair skin is the superior tone, and dark skin is a negative trait. In the article, “Blackface is Never Okay” by Edward Bowser, he points out that, “Many men feel like cultural assimilation is the key to success in America… Children still wrestle with self-identity, with many ashamed of their naturally kinky hair and dark skin.” The stereotypes heavily normalized has affected the way children feel about their own skin. The negative connotation and subtle remarks a person may make to glorify fair skin can shape an insecurity around a person’s identity, creating self hatred. The person will constantly feel the need to “fix,” a natural asset about themselves, such as an accent or their skin tone. In the book, “Brown Skin, White Minds,” by E.J.R. David, the author explains that the tendency of the Filipino mind to praise fair skin comes from a mindset called “Colonialism,” which is when a country believes that the culture the colonizers imposed on them is better. Essentially, the colonialism mindset is like “bullying,” a country for such a long time that the country begins to despise the way they originally were and dark skin is associated with looking more “native.”

Yellow Face and Black Face are exaggerations of an unjust and outdated mindset that allows prejudice and discrimination to discreetly seep into the audience’s minds. The exaggerated representation of Asian Americans in the media shows the audience that a culture that is not “white,” is absurd which results in a person’s embarrassment of themselves and the culture that makes the person unique.

Many immigrants praise America as the land of opportunity, and a better life but it is important for us to point out the wrongdoings in our media and lifestyle in order to set an example for others. It is essential for us to correct the stereotypical mind to reduce the damage this mindset can spread. Correcting the behavior of the American media may spark a conversation in immigrant families and allow a better perspective to be shared at the dining table. Simply viewing and understanding the mistakes that has historically lead to misbehavior, brings us one step closer to a more welcoming country for embraced differences.

#essay

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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WORKS CITED

Works Cited

Billy Joel. “Vienna.” The Stranger, A & R Recording, 1977. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZdiXvDU4P0.

Tan, Amy. “Mother’s Tongue.” CUNY, http://theessayexperiencefall2013.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/files/2013/09/Mother-Tongue-by-Amy-Tan.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2018.

Chiu, Allyson. “Why Crazy Rich Asians matters.” Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/04/26/an-all-asian-cast-and-no-martial-arts-why-the-crazy-rich-asians-movie-matters/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b313ef99ce7b. Accessed 25 October 2018.

Horikoshi, Kohei. Watashi Ga Kita, 3 April 2016, Japan.

Zia, Helen. Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000. Print.

David, E J. R. Brown Skin, White Minds: Filipino-/american Postcolonial Psychology (with Commentaries) = Kayumanggi Balat, Puti Isip., 2013. Print.

Adventure Time. Burbank, CA: Distributed by Warner Home Video, 2012.

Tangled. Walt Disney Films, 2010. Film.

Brooks, David. “People Like Us.” The Atlantic, September 2003, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/09/people-like-us/302774/. Accessed 17 September 2018

Fleischman, Paul. Seedfolks. New York, HarperCollins Publisher, 1997.

#workscited

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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How Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue,” relates to my identity as a Filipina American

Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue,” shares the insights of the “broken English,” her mother speaks and how it carries a negative stigma that causes others to look at the speaker differently. The short story is an anecdote about Tan’s experiences aiding her mother deal with accent discrimination and how she came to admire the natural way her mother speaks. She presents her concern towards discrimination of accents and follows with her anecdotal reasons creating a relatable connection towards readers. Her old mindset emphasized the idea wrapped around “broken English,” that the person speaking is seen as a child and should “know better.” As a child, she was exposed to the hostility her mother confronted which influenced her to have the same distasteful attitude towards her mother.

Amy Tan’s point of her narrative speaks out against prejudice among those who mistreat accented people. She mentions the intimacy her mother’s tongue brings, implying that there her mother’s accent is nothing but an accent. Her experience relates to my identity as a Filipino-American. I saw the negative stigma around accents as my dad was heavily affected by discrimination. I hated being Filipino that I started to say I was partly Hispanic, considering the Spanish-Filipino war that took place in the late 1800’s. I was not proud of my ethnicity because I grew up in a dominantly Hispanic neighborhood and middle school. It was not until I visited the Philippines that I started to take pride in who I am. I saw how my family cared for each other, and how the neighbors actually formed a community. I saw how the environment shaped my parents’ values and how they lived their daily lives eating rice in the morning, eat bananas out of leaves and their style of clothing. After the trip on the airplane, I decided to seriously learn Tagalog and watch the television shows my cousins watched across the ocean. I took their values with me and inflated it with pride for who I am. I took pride in the dialects my parents spoke, and that my native home was on an island. I took pride in my dad’s side of the family and how they grew up near the ocean, adapting to swimming and holding their breaths longer than 20 seconds. I took pride in my Pinoy identity, and wished I had this realization earlier in life.

#identityarticles

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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Two of the dearest family members of mine!

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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My Identity to “Crazy Rich Asians.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/04/26/an-all-asian-cast-and-no-martial-arts-why-the-crazy-rich-asians-movie-matters/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e04353b1ef33

This article is a review about the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie and how it is a big step for Hollywood, praising it for portraying Asian Americans in a non-stereotypical way. This relates to my identity because growing up my dreams typically aimed towards the entertainment, such as becoming a singer, writer or artist. As I grew older, my parents implied that I would not be successful in this industry because of its instability and because of my race. I grew up in a predominately white, performing arts high school and seeing a small amount of those similar to my race in students shows and performances only reinforced my parents’ stigma around achieving my goals. I accepted their opinion and strayed away from my musical and artistic hobbies. I started to view a future in the entertainment industry realistic towards those who are white or those who are in the higher middle class. I explored other subjects such as Environmental Science and Engineering but it always felt like it was not enough. It wasn’t until the beginning of college where I saw how their opinion shaped my decision making. I was confused and I felt lost. I was undecided because the goals I had in mind were buried in my parents’ conditioning.

When I first saw the movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” I left in tears. I was overwhelmed by the representation of Asian Americans in the media. I was in shock as I discovered the director was Asian as well. The actors and actresses went to law school and medical school before their debut on television, which was understandable because of the heavy emphasis on “practical,” and “stable,” jobs in the medical field in Asian culture. The article related to my identity because as an Asian American who is pursuing a Multimedia degree, I felt a new found hope for my future. The article talked about how excited the Asian American community felt as their representation was peaking at volumes. The movie’s popularity was proof that “success,” in the entertainment industry as an Asian American was possible. I can not imagine how proud the cast made their parents and I can not wait to do the same to mine.

#identityarticle #identityarticles

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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Song Project

Billy Joel’s “Vienna”

Slow down, you crazy child

You're so ambitious for a juvenile

But then if you're so smart, then tell me

Why are you still so afraid?

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?

You'd better cool it off before you burn it out

You've got so much to do

And only so many hours in a day

But you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You're gonna kick off before you even

Get halfway through

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you

Slow down, you're doing fine

You can't be everything you want to be

Before your time

Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight

Tonight,

Too bad but it's the life you lead

You're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need

Though you can see when you're wrong, you know

You can't always see when you're right. You're right

You've got your passion, you've got your pride

But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?

Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

Slow down, you crazy child

And take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile

It's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You're gonna kick off before you even get half through

Why don't you realize, Vienna waits for you

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

MY ANALYSIS & ITS RELATIONSHIP TO MY IDENTITY

The song “Vienna,” by Billy Joel revives the carefree child-like nature that young adults and growing teenagers often lose. At ages 18-25, we are bombarded by expectations to already understand ourselves enough to plan out a future with only about a decade or two of life experiences under our belts.

As children, we lived each day in its own entirety, feeling fulfilled by the brand new twenty-four hours to play in. The lyrics, “Vienna waits for you,” is meant to alleviate any burden people feel when simply feeling lost, confused or rushed in a world filled with people who seem to know where they are going. With social media being so prominent in our life styles, it is easy to compare our lives with someone considered more successful and to feel defeated by what others have accomplished. He advises the audience to focus on themselves; that when they feel like they have hit rock bottom, to soak in each day and to achieve any little task with effort.

In high school, I felt like I wanted to achieve more than I can handle. I jumped from idea to idea: wanting to study environmental science, research chronic disease, become a screenwriter, or be in a band. Each of these fantasies had engulfed my entire mind and sometimes, it was all I could ever talk about. I felt defeated every time I mentioned a dream that did not meet my parents’ ideal criteria. With their opinions in mind, I was often undecided of what to study or even what to do with my free time. I felt lost and anxious but this song reminded me that I am still a young student who is still learning. It was a reminder not to worry so much as to where I am headed because I will end up where I belong. Joel’s mixture of encouragement and advice grounded the doubt I had for my future and taught me to practice putting in effort in all I plan to do, and to take each day one step at a time.

#vienna #billy joel #song

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gisellematuran-blog · 7 years ago

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Did someone say... write an introduction?

Introducing: Giselle Mae Maturan!!!

Hello World!

My name is Giselle Mae Maturan, or as my mom likes to call me, “annoying.”

I come from a family of four: my mother, father, sister and I. I grew up here in the Valley for eighteen years. Growing up, my parents were too busy trying to find a better job here in the grand, old America. My mom was a waitress for a large portion of my elementary school years, while my dad worked at Holiday Inn and attended a trade school. Sometimes, I wished that they would have placed me in piano school or a basketball team like my friends because my hobbies were mainly home and introverted based. I grew up watching TV and playing on the computer, sitting at home but some things never change.

Now, my hobbies consist of writing, doodling, karaoke, playing the piano, playing the ukulele, reading comics, reading in general (especially Reddit) and watching TV.

Other than that, some values that are golden to me is prioritizing your community and building connections. I grew up around introverted activities, so I had trouble connecting with others because I was not outspoken and felt embarrassed of what I liked to do. Oftentimes, I felt secluded and alone. It wasn’t until recently that I developed a bit of confidence in myself to share who I am to the world. Because of that, I also value authenticity. It is important to be true to yourself and those around you in the world of the internet, where everything is perfectionism is glorified and reality is edited and polished.

#introduction