At this time I am deciding to write about the stock markets across the globe.  I have been an investor for 4-5 years and I now begin to realize that reality isn’t key, what people perceive is important.  My qualm with perception is that what someone perceives doesn’t have to be the truth, Europe has a record high unemployment level but if we are to look at that stock market you’d think things are awesome.  Better yet, I take a look at  America and the Job report, the terrible thing is the job report says that unemployment is at a level seen before the crisis in 08′.  The reality is that I do not look around and see businesses performing that way; my father owns a mechanic shop for 36 years and again I will say that I do not see business in the same light as I did on 08′.  Nonetheless, we see the stock markets of America at an all time high.  What do the stock markets really symbolize? Do the markets symbolize manipulation?

This week we discussed “Drown” by Junot Diaz and it really got to me. I am a Dominican-American and reading about Junot it really sparked my curiosity of my culture and made me start to do research on history to uncover things that i was not aware of prior. I believe this class does that a lot to many of us. I feel that we have read a story in the class that can relate to the culture of everyone in the classroom. I really enjoy this.

I was not sure what to write this week but i felt like telling the class how i felt about the readings thus far.

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the definition of METAMORPHOSIS is:

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “Metamorphosis” means a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something. In biology, it means a major change in the form or structure of some animals or insects that happens as the animal or insect becomes an adult, for example, the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs.

It is obvious that “metamorphosis” refers to the change that happens on Gregor’s body. But in my opinion, “metamorphosis” also happens on Gregor’s family members, father, mother, and his sister. Although their appearances do not change, their major changes happen on their behavior and spirit. After Gregor became an insect, the story recalls the time when Gregor is working, “They had been good times, and they had never returned, at least not in that magnificence, even though Gregor went on to earn so much money that he was able to bear, and indeed bore the expenses of the whole family. The just become used to it, both family and Gregor”(Kafka 224). Gregor’s family members just like insects; they only accept the money and life which Gregor makes and take it for granted. Contrary to the ending of the story, the author states, “Setting back comfortably in their seats, they discussed the prospects for the future; it turned out that on closer inspection these were not at all bad, because the work of all of them, which they had yet to talk about properly, was proceeding in a very encouraging way, particularly in regard to future prospects” (Kafka 241). Their life changes from caterpillars to butterflies. Gregor’s death teaches them how to live on themselves.

I like the story because it reflects the real life. I strongly agree with the situation when Gregor become useless and even the extra burden for the family, all of his family members change their attitudes to Gregor. It is true. I can be filial obedience to my parents, but for my siblings I cannot promise it. It also makes me remember the wedding vows,” I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”. In reality, how many couples can keep their promise when they meet with the similar situation as Gregor’s change?

Junot Diaz has created quite a lot of buzz within my circle of friends, but I never got to read any of the recommendations that I had received from them. Now I know what the hype is all about. Finally a piece by a Dominican like myself —the use of language was enjoyable because it depicted our speech impeccably, so it was a breeze to read. Overall I found his writing to be enjoyable, it felt very conversational and realistic. My friends and I tend to speak in Spanglish from time to time and Diaz’ portrayed that perfectly—I think many bilinguals have this issue. The switch from English to subtle hints of Spanish made it feel as though a friend was re-telling a story to me. The story line was also one that reflected the lives of many Hispanic youths who live in an impoverished neighborhood—drug dealing, theft, military recruiters trying to get them to join the military, trespassing troublemakers, etc.

A portion of the reading that I particularly found interesting was the beginning. Junot undoubtedly knows how to keep his reader interested. He starts the piece with an instant hook:

“My mother tells me Beto’s home, waits for me to say something, but I keep watching the TV. Only when she’s in bed do I put on my jacket and swing through the neighborhood to see. He’s a pato now but two years ago we were friends and he would walk into the apartment without knocking, his heavy voice rousing my mother from the Spanish of her room and drawing me up from the basement, a voice that crackled and made you think of uncles or grandfathers.”

After reading the boldfaced text, I instantly questioned why Yunior stopped being Beto’s friend, and I somewhat knew that this was a foreshadowing to a story that would be told later in the text. Yunior’s quick introduction of Beto a pato was interesting to me and hilarious to say the least. Then later in the text we see that Beto somewhat took advantage of Yunior during a session of porn watching, but was it really taking advantage of him since Yunior’s reaction wasn’t one that you’d expect from someone who would be resisting?

My interpretation of this text is that it’s a story of a troubled kid, one who is drowning in poverty, confusion and disbelief. Yunior retells his friendship with Beto vividly and somehow seems like they were great memories of his. My personal opinion is that Yunior in fact felt something for Beto, but because it was probably looked at as “wrong”, he decided to distance himself from him in order to avoid disappointment or disapproval from his family. Yunior’s character is one who is afraid of change and it is evident within the text.

We will meet at 12:30PM at MOMA near the 54th Street entrance (by the membership tables inside). Remember, if you have a bookbag, you’ll need to check it but keep a notebook for writing.