5a - Train Go Sorry Essay

Train Go Sorry - Essay Responses

"My name is Frank and I am a hearing student that was assigned the book Train Go Sorry in my Introduction to Humanities Class. Other readings assigned in this class include several essays from the book My California. In both books, we examined the cultures of California that form a microcosm of the U.S. In this essay, I will incorporate 4 required questions."

1. What does Train Go Sorry mean (who in the book is this referring to; there is a specific person, include his name and his outcome. Remember that good college writing assumes no one has read the information and you must present it or 'teach' it by giving us details.)?

Train Go Sorry is an American Sign Language (ASL) phrase that translates to missing an opportunity or a connection. While commonly understood in the deaf world and Deaf Culture as similar to the English idiom “you missed the boat,” the instance in which it occurs within this book refers specifically to the many missed contacts and chances endured by James Lee Taylor III. James Taylor is an African American deaf student and eventual graduate who is one of the prominent and reoccurring characters within the confines of Cohen's writing. Standing at the crossroads of poverty and disability, James must overcome what is usually considered to be two insurmountable obstacles. Growing up in an apartment house that is a part of the New York City projects, he is raised by his mother Delores and lives amongst his brothers Andre and Joseph as well as his sisters, Linda and Denise. The sibling that has a particularly influential impact on his mentality is his younger brother Joseph, who has interminable involvement with crime and the law, which culminates in his residence at the Rikers Prison. James' personal ailments occur shortly after coming into contact with a dog that contracts bacterial meningitis when he is of the age five. James subsequently becomes completely deaf, relying on residual hearing and lip reading as a sole outlet of vocalization, his only contact into the hearing world. By the time James Taylor was fourteen years of age, he was attending the St. Joseph's School for the Deaf in the Bronx. He subsequently started to attend the Lexington School for the Deaf (the same school where the author's father was once superintendent), and during attendance manages to achieve prestigious academic honors and tenure as president of the Black Culture Club. James will ultimately receive his diploma to the melody or Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. Content at the prospects of attending Camden County College, James probably reflected on what was changing at what occurred. Leaving behind the dorms of Lexington and friends like Paul Escobar was similar to abandoning familiarity, but it was something that was necessary for progress and the attainment of a lucrative future. Train go sorry may represent the idiom “you missed the boat,” but in reality, and especially the evening he graduated, James knew he was more fortunate than most. When he went to visit his brother in prison, he realized that it was indeed Joseph that missed such a boat. With the support of the deaf community and those closest, he could utilize the same perseverance he was employing through out his entire life and ultimately obtain success.

2. What pair of 'shoes' do you think the main person in the book is walking in and what did she learn? In other words, who or what culture does she want to belong to and why?

The main person of the book is Leah Cohen, author and narrator. Growing up in the Lexington School for the Deaf and not being hard of hearing herself, she experienced a submersion that most never experience and that altered her life dramatically. People who were deaf seemed to be present throughout her life, not strictly confined to the boundaries of her residence. Her grandparents, Samuel and Fannie Kolominsky (eventually changed to Cohen), were also deaf and had an equally meaningful impact in Leah Cohen's dispositional development. With all of the contact with the Deaf Culture, it becomes an inevitable circumstance that Cohen wants to be apart of the Deaf Culture and finds herself walking in the shoes of one who is not hearing-impaired but longs to be involved with those that are. Where a deaf individual may feel socially isolated in a world full of those that strictly hear, Cohen feels equally alone in a world where there are those that struggle to speak and understand the spoken word. With a profound understanding of the culture and diversity that is inextricably linked with the deaf community, at best Cohen will only be able to participate at a distance regardless of her cognizance and empirical (observational) knowledge relating to the deaf. Her sister Riba and adopted brother Andy probably endure similar plights. Ultimately, this is the most notable reason that explains her desire to become apart of the Deaf Culture.

3. What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in?

An image that I won't ever forget after reading this book occurs in the chapter “Falling Within the Banana.” After James' cochlear implantation examination, he encounters several people on the way back to the Lexington Dormitories. Among these spontaneous contacts is a man who asks information regarding the train that he is considering boarding. “The uptown number one?” he asks James several times. After he fails to elicit a response from James (because James can't hear or read the man's lips), the man takes the silence as an offense and walks away in disgust making, his dislike discernible to those around him. If delineated and interpreted concretely, this can be viewed as a message concerning the lack of deaf awareness and respect towards these individuals. I was stirred by the man's appalling reaction towards James' silence and was surprised the stranger was not more empathetic towards others he does not know personally. If your not familiar with one's etiology, you should not make assumptions or draw conclusions because chances are that you will not be correct or fortuitous. I think more people should read Train Go Sorry and raise much needed awareness of the subject matter at hand.

4. What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book?

Five facts that everyone should know about ASL or Deaf culture after reading this book are as follows. One should know that the teletypewriter device (or TTY) enables the deaf to communicate through phone services. That bacterial meningitis is a major cause of deafness in children. One should be aware that oral methods of instructing deaf pupils was once preferred over the combination of oral instruction and American Sign Language usage. That American Sign Language is called “American” for a reason, and that is because it is not a universal signing system. In fact, other countries have their own distinct systems sign languages. That while the country is making improvements, there is still inadequate services and schools provided for the deaf. That not all registered deaf people are completely non-hearing, but that they may rely on residual hearing in order to intercept words and sentences.

Conclusion -

Overall, I thought this book to be well written, invigorating, and enlightening. I really enjoyed the read and I thank the professor for choosing such a neat opportunity to observe and understand the Deaf Culture and community.

4c – Classmate Reflection on Assignment Three

1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?
EXAMPLE classmate Liz, component a World Cities, San Francisco...

The classmate web log that I used for comparing and contrasting for this assignment was Rhianon's. We both did the 3a assignment on world cities for one of the component categories and chose San Francisco as one of the cities for that particular assignment. The name of the choice was 3a world cities.

Rhianon's Web Log URL - http://rhianonlarson.blogspot.com/

2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?
EXAMPLE Liz and I both focussed on blank

Something similar that we said about our choice of San Francisco concerns the city's connection to the study of humanities. We both came to the conclusion that comparing and contrasting two different cities (for an example, comparing San Francisco with New York City) can provide invaluable information. Such an observation allows us to apprehend the cultural differences, political nuances, and economic niceties that make each city a unique place.

3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?
EXAMPLE Liz and I have differing opinions on blank

Our stereotypes about the city of San Francisco differed considerably but both of our points seem to be well founded. The stereotypes that I found about San Francisco included primarily the tourist assumptions that are usually realized when one sees the city in a magazine or on the television. Rhianon focused on the political stereotypes of San Francisco, bringing attention to the often over emphasized liberal policies. She also mentioned the pan handlers and bums as a typical image that people intercept about the city of San Francisco.

4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?

This assignment had a lot in common with Paulo Freire's philosophy and ideas on education. Freire's “banking concept” and theories regarding the “tabula rasa” seemed to correlate strongly with the procedure of the assignment. I went into this assignment assuming that I had a definitive understanding regarding the disposition of the city of San Francisco, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover the opposite. For an example, when I was comparing and contrasting the stereotypes of San Francisco, I never thought of the alternative opinions that someone may hold of such a place. The most significant idea that emerged from this assignment was the applicable properties of Freire's ideology. I never knew they could be understood on a student to student basis. I found myself learning from one of my classmates and the assignment exhibted Freire's ideas in action.

4b - "My California," Classwork Reflection

1.) Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about your same essays and briefly compare/contrast their choices and ideas versus what you said (eg "In my readings of these same authors I found that BLANK and my classmate also thought BLANK. An interesting point of view I didn't think of that my classmate said is BLANK")

For this assignment, I decided to compare my responses with Monica Badgley. We both read the same essays from the My California book. The authors were Arax, Liu, Jefferson Parker, and Macke)

For the essay by Arax, Monica reached similar if not the same conclusions that I made concerning the importance of farming and the pervasive commercialism in modern day, rural California. One of the primary differences between our observations however exist in our unique writing styles and the techniques that we employ. Whereas I was trying to encapsulate the essay and grasp key points, Monica has seemed to implement a thorough summary style that is very effective in conveying the essence of the stories. Are techniques of writing remained constant for all four of the essays.

For the second essay, we both realized similar points about the veritable realities behind places like Beverley Hill. We both had the same sentence quoted as our favorite. The impressions that the story made made on each other was different, however. Monica said it reminded her of a recent trip to the city. I didn't think of any particular city, but thought of the cities in general that possess transients of one kind or another, and that they are found everywhere.

The third required reading by Jefferson Parker was my least favorite of the four. It talked about a fishing trip and I thought maybe I missed something in my original read because I came to the conclusion that it was simply an anecdote about angler fishing on the River Owens. Monica was able to extract more from this reading than I was able. Unfortunately, I didn't find this account to be particular fascinating, it reminded me of nothing remarkably familiar, and I found it rather ponderous in general.

The final story was my favorite and was written by Mary Mackey. We seemed to have a similar experience with this reading and both enjoy the company of water fowl. I used to have a home near a large pond where the ducks and geese lived, but have moved from there a while ago.

2.) Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a different set of essays and tell us one thing you learned per author presented.

I choose Kendra to learn about the second set of essays.

From the essay by Hector Tobar entitled Ode to Cal Trans, I learned an interesting fact about the white-helmet portrait. The workers of Cal Trans supposedly place one of these picture where ever a worker dies on the job. An appropriate and respectable homage to the employees of a well known union of California.

The second story by Thomas Steinbeck called Montalvo, Myths and Dreams From Home, I learned about an interesting – albeit mythical – California known as Big Sur. I found this amusing and I actually read the essay myself.

I learned in the third essay that despite being in Orange County, California, Seal Beach has managed to successfully maintain a small-town look and feel. Quite a formidable task for any city/town in that area.

From Kendra's writing I learned some interesting things about Maverick's in Half Moon Bay. I already new that Half Moon Bay was the oldest city in San Mateo County, however.

3.) Like number 2, choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a set of essays that you didn't read.

I checked out Alfredo Ramirez's blog to do the third part of this week's assignment.

From the first essay by Firoozeh Dumas, I found the pool keys as a symbol of freedom an interesting concept concerning a family from Iran.

Cotton Candy Mirrors by Devorah Major was the second essay required for group three. I didn't learn anything particularly relevant, so I decided to read the story myself. It was simply an amusing account of childhood occurrences in a neighborhood when one day they decide to investigate a fun house. It was a fun read like many are within this book.

Berkeley, written by Michael Chabon immediately caught my attention. From Alfredo's web log, I learned that this was an excerpt about the atmosphere of the town of Berkeley and being on the town University campus. I also read this myself and found it really neat comparing and contrasting one area from another. The quote that Alfredo chose was also one of my favorite from the reading.

The final essay is by Kathi Kamen Goldmark and is entitled California Honky Tonk. Prior to the reading, I didn't know we had that type of bar atmosphere in the area. I know there exist bikers, but the “biker bar” wan an interesting concept for liberal California.

4a - Group 1 Readings

Group 1 Readings: Arax, Liu, Jefferson Parker, and Mackey

Reading 1: "The Big Valley"

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

The title of the first story is “The Big Valley,” by Mark Arax (pages 17 - 27).

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

The story “The Big Valley,” by Mark Arax tells the reader several interesting accounts of his family's history, which includes the author's life growing up near Forkner Avenue in Fresno, California, and his father and grandfather's efforts during their agricultural years and ascendancies. Arax continues on to elaborate on the plights of agronomists, past and present, and how the once fig farms and vineyards of his predecessors have given away and became commercial establishments and shopping outlets.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

My favorite quote in the story occurs on page 25, and says the riddle of selling sun-dried grapes “was no more complicated than getting every woman in China to place a single raisin in her pot of rice.” I thought this was a particularly neat quotation, and it is actually a quote within the story, and was originally adduced by William Saroyan. I thought it was a worthy quotation that epitomizes the adversities that farmers and agriculturalists face today.

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

This story made me think of the inevitable preponderance of modern day corporations and how they are affecting those individuals who make a living off agricultural means. The lack of subsidies, funding, and support of these agricultural practices may ultimately lead to the demise of modern day farming.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

I didn't know that Tulare, California, was home to the biggest farm equipment show in the world. I thought this a rather interesting and fascinating fact.

Reading 2: "Transients in Paradise"

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

The title of the second story is “Transients in Paradise,” by Aimee Liu (pages 29 - 35).

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

This reading by Aimee Liu provides a more realistic interpretation of the demographics and denizens that comprise Beverly Hills, California. When people think of Beverly Hills, they will be compelled to cerebrate the pervasive fashion, designer goods, theatrical stars, and mansions. In a sense this is true, though not entirely. As Aimee Liu mentions, many fail to take into any type of recognition the “transients” that occupy the city, and this oversight culminates into a division of fear and desire.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

My favorite quotation was “we are all transients of one kind or another. On our way into or out of wealth, into or out of sanity, beauty, love, health, or death.” I found this to be very true and appropriate statement for this story.

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

While reading, this story made me think of all of the different cities throughout the world that project a similar false image as Beverly Hills supposedly does.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

I didn't know that poverty was a serious problem in Beverly Hills. Perhaps it is the transients that come into the city to work the jobs no one else will pursue, but in either case I was surprised.

Reading 3: "Showing Off the Owens"

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

The title of the third story is “Showing Off the Owens,” by T. Jefferson Parker (pages 37 - 43).

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

T. Jefferson Parker's story tells of a fishing trip that he made with an acquaintance, Brian Wiprud, along the River Owens which lies along the “white Sierra Nevada.” Several days are passed along this river while they try and succeed in catching rainbow trout – of sizes from six to ten inches according to Jefferson Parker's attestations – while enjoying time doing so in general.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

My favorite sentence, which I thought to be quite humorous, was the one made concerning the nature of “In-N-Out Burger.” Jefferson Parker's friend, Wiprud, mentions how the 'out' of In-N-Out Burger “kind of worries me.”

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

While not an avid fisher myself, I don't possess to many personal accounts or experiences in which to relate. If I were to relate this story, I would probably invoke an instance where I had the pleasure of sharing my hobby or interest with someone who was enthusiastic about something as I was.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

Before reading this anecdote, I wasn't aware that collared lizards possessed the ability to swim in

Reading 4: "The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak"

1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point

The title of the fourth and final story that was required for group one was “The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak,” written by Mary Mackey (Page 45 – 49.)

2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent

This short story tells of the American River Parkway in Sacramento County, and how it acts as an excellent intermediary between the life at the university where Mackey teaches and the perpetual sounds of traffic and rush hour. The account starts out with Mackey deceiving a group of waterfowl, and then goes on to talk about the wide variety of culture that occurs in this county of California. The ethnic groups include Hmong Vietnamese, Russians, Samoans, and African-Brazilians. Overall, Mackey makes the American River Parkway seem like a very inviting and pleasant place to visit.

3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent

This story was probably my favorite out of the group of selected readings. I found this account to be both humorous and amusing. The quote that I particularly like describes the ducks reasons for not reacting to the presence of a creeping, but not completely covert human in their water habitat. “The mallards do not notice my approach. They never do. Perhaps ducks are nearsighted, perhaps they have a limited ability to sort out foreground and background, perhaps they are too busy dunking under to grab a beak-full of duckweed, or perhaps they just don't give a damn,” (pages 45 and 46.)

4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent

This type of seclusion, away from the bustle and tumultuous habits of humanity, reminded me of the type of seclusion that I enjoy immensely at the mountain cemetery in the town of Sonoma. The peaceful settings of the American River Parkway seemed to have much in common with my favorite retreat.

5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent

I lived in Yolo County for a year of my life and I was never aware of the tremendous Russian population around the Sacramento area. As mentioned above, Mackey also discusses other ethnic groups in the immediate area.