Term+One+Holiday+Homework

We will begin Term Two with a close study of selected stories from //Growing up Asian in Australia// as part of our study of the context **//Identity and Belonging.//** You will need to re-read the following stories and complete the writing tasks below. Apart from these stories, it would be useful to re-read others in the book as well. Also, if you can think of any other texts (short stories, books, films, poetry or songs, pictures) that reflect our context in some way then take note of them as you will be required to bring some in during term two.
 * Term One Holiday Homework (Due Wednesday 27th April) **

Remember, we need to read each story from two main perspectives:

- How does this story address the concept of identity and belonging? - What structural and language features are used by the author to create meaning?

** Give __detailed__ responses to the questions below: ** ‘The Relative Advantages of Learning My Language’ by Amy Choi 1. Why does Amy originally consider it unnecessary to learn her family’s Chinese language? What does this tell us about her sense of identity? 2. “He had a blank, goofy, content expression on his face…” (p.8). How would you describe the narrative voice in this quote and throughout the story? What effect does this create? 3. Explain the double meaning implied by the title. 4. What do you believe Amy learns throughout this story? Discuss using evidence.

‘Sticks and Stones and Such-like’ by Sunil Badami 1. What’s in a name? Why does Sunil originally want to change his name to Neil? 2. What does this decision tell us about his sense of identity and belonging? What does he value most? 3. In what way does his sense of identity change when his mother tells him the story of his name Sunil? 4. How would you describe the narrative voice of this story? What effect does this create? 5. “…every sentence a masala of different vocabularies” (p.11). Find at least two other examples of similes or metaphors that use Indian vernacular. What effect does this create? 6. Describe the impact of the final sentence. How do you think Sunil would have reacted to this discovery if the story had not ended there?

‘The Water Buffalo’ by Thao Nguyen 1. The structure of this story is quite unusual, explain how it is structured, particularly in terms of narrative voice. 2. What is the effect of the writing in italics? In what way does it contrast the main narrative and what does this add to the story? 3. Explain the extended metaphor of the buffalo. What does he represent? 4. Why do you think the daughter gave up her career in medicine to become a painter, and why did this upset her father so much? 5. “She was a stranger in a familiar land.” (p.36). Discuss this quote with reference to her sense of identity and belonging. 6. “She would never know and she would be caught forever in this place between dream and reality.” (p.38). Why does the daughter regret not having a relationship with her father for so many years? How does this affect her sense of identity and belonging?

‘Destiny’ by Shalini Akhil 1. How would you describe the narrative voice used in this story? 2. In what ways can our sense of identity be challenged by those around us? Discuss with reference to the story. 3. “I felt sorry for the old Wonder Woman.” (p.178). What does the narrator learn to value about her Indian heritage? To which culture does she feel a sense of belonging, and why? 4. Would you consider this story to be uplifting? Explain.

‘Five Ways to Disappoint Your Vietnamese Mother’, by Diana Nguyen 1. This is another story that employs a slightly unusual structure. Explain this structure and the effect it creates. 2. Diana struggles for a sense of belonging throughout her teenage years, however do you think she has a strong sense of identity? Explain. 3. What is the main cause of friction between Diana and her mother? 4. “One day, I was serving a customer who bought nappies.” (p.289) is Diana’s description of the customer who racially stereotypes her. Look carefully at Diana’s description of the customer and discuss what this may tell us about Diana’s views on identity. (Hint: What does she //not// mention in her description?) 5. Do you believe Diana should identify herself as Australian-Vietnamese or Vietnamese-Australian? Give detailed reasons for your response.