assignment 4b

REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT OF My California

1. Dawnyel and I both had the same group 3 readings. It sounds like we had similar ideas of our interpretations of the first story,Bienvenidos a Newport Beach . The fact that the home the family moved into was part of a planned community, and that this was a new lifestyle for the family is what we thought the focus of the story was about. Something that stood out to the both of us was the cost to replace the pool key which was $100. I believe that the pool was a symbol of freedom and fun for the family and I didn't read that it symbolized that same thing from Dawnyel's point of view. I also think the story is from a young boys point of view where she wrote that it was from a girls point of view. The second story, Cotton Candy Mirrors we also agree that the story was about how much fun a child can have on there summer vacation and how much you can learn about yourself. The third story titled Berkeley we also both agree is about a man who is in love with the crazy, wild town that he lives in and wouldn't change or trade it for the world. And the final story, California Honky Tonk we both agree is about some wonderful memories created by an old folksinger.
http://4agroup3.blogspot.com/2009/04/4a-group-3.html

2. In group 1 readings I learned from Sierra in the story The Big Valley how much pride a farmer has for what they do. I think that many of us take for granted how much hard work is put into farming and this story seems like a reminder of that. In the second story Transients in Paradise I was reminded by Sierra of the stereotypes of Beverly Hills. I was reminded that a lot of what I hear about Beverly Hills is true at least from many people's perspective. This author "despises" Beverly Hills because of the fake, rich, snobs that live there. I chuckled as I read this because this is exactly how the town is stereotyped. In the third story Showing Off the Owens Sierra describes two men leaving their busy lives in L.A. to go on a fishing trip and become one with nature. I learned that sometimes people don't like the busyness of city life and are much more happier with nature. In the final story The distant cataract about which we do not speak I learned that people actually go out to rivers and study the animals of the water. I can imagine that this is something very passionate to some people as it is to the couple in the story.
http://sierradotcom.blogspot.com/2009/04/4a-group-1.html

3. I read Jennifer's group 2 readings. In the first reading “Montalvo, Myths, and Dreams of Home,” I learned that the Spaniard’s fell in love with the myth of California. I also learned that as time went on, the mystery and mythology associated with that infatuation carried on to modern times. Jennifer says that in the story Steinbeck talks about how the myth has evolved and is different things to different people. It would be interesting to hear a few different points of view of what those differences are. In the story “Ode to Caltrans,” the author talks about his relationship with the freeway systems of Southern California. I didn't know that you could have a relationship with the freeway but I guess it makes sense In the story because each part of the freeway is a representation of some part of the authors life. “The Last Little Beach Town,” I learned that Seal Beach has remained the last small town beach in the greater Los Angeles area. In the third story “Surfacing,” she describes this story as being about the surf culture of Half Moon Bay and one surfer wiping out and getting right back up on the waves. I think that is so brave and like Jennifer I did not know that Half Moon Bay was a whaling town.
http://gicgott.blogspot.com/2009/04/4a-group-2.html