Ch. 16 Quote 3/27

“It’s as if Ma and Abba were still in Bangladesh riding in a flat bottomed boat in the night, and Aisha was the magic girl who lived above the dark tree branches and lit the way, leading us down the complicated bends. Now all the stars are no more than rubber stickers pasted on a ceiling; they’ve come unfastened and they’re whirling around one another, not sure which will settle where. But sometimes there’s someone else, especially when the sky goes dark: the person guiding slowly from behind. That’s who I’ve become in my family.”

 

I think Nadira is finally realizing her place and what she is capable of. She always envied Aisha because of her ability to fight and solve problems head on, but when things got rough, Nadira was the one jump in and hold it all together. I think this quote is a beautiful metaphor. It not only reflects Nadiras new found place in her family, but it exemplifies the Hussain’s culture and background.

"At first I can't get the words out - it's like pushing against a wall of water. I want to tell them more than just that I have proof that Abba was just putting money away for our tuition. I want to tell them that Abba's favorite show is The Simpsons and that he loves Tagore. I want to say that sometimes you can't know who a person is. Sometimes they don't know who they are either. They can appear to be one thing - like me, fat and slow and lazy - but you can look at them another way too - and see something else."

I've noticed that water is mentioned a lot in "Ask Me No Questions." Nadira brings it up when she is speaking of her home in Bangladesh and of her swimming lessons with Abba. Often the water is used as a metaphor and in this quote a simile. Nadira compares water to her inability to speak and how she must push through the "water" and find courage.

Ch. 14 Quote 3/19

"Something snags in my throat. I don't want to do this. I don't want to give up Abba's money and do secret business with those men in the other room. I just want to sit with this boy here and laugh at the stupid jokes. I want everything to be the way it was before we went to Canada, when Ma and Abba let me watch TV for an hour every night, and I would rest the back of my head against Abba's legs. Suddenly I can feel it, his words of patience telling me to choose right, even when the storms come."

I was disappointed when Nadira decided to buy Abba documents illegally. I had a feeling that she would back out, but I thought that she would out of fear. Instead, I was surprised when she decided to leave because she knew what she was doing was immoral and untrustworthy. Nadira showed great self control and courage in a situation when she was being pressured.

Ch. 12 Quote 3/17

"I always thought of college as a place for stars like Aisha, who does everything that her teachers expect from her, even down to hanging out in the right cliques. And all of us can see her there as clearly as if we had a TV screen of her life at school playing in our heads. But for the first time I start to actually imagine me sitting on concrete steps like this, or in a class reading lots of fat books and saying what I think."

I love this quote. Nadira is finally starting to realize that she has something to look forward to after her family's immigration status is worked out. I think knowing she can have a future will help her fight through the tough times.

Ch. 11 Quote 3/15

"I only know that these doughnuts aren't making me feel better and that I'm sick of knowing too much about the adults. It's not such a great talent, I think, this putting things together. Not if it makes people so sad."

After telling Lily about her father's affair, Nadira feels weighed down from knowing so much information. Although she feels bad that she upset her friend, I think Nadira was glad to let some of it out. There is a lot of pressure building up inside her because she has too keep her family's struggle to herself, and I think it helped her to let off some steam.

Ch. 10 Quote 3/12

"It's like the words are stuck in his mouth, and he can't get them out. One part of him wants to answer the man, I can see, and the other is being tugged back to Taslima. I know he hates this: He hates that his English has fled him, and his own daughter is showing him up in front of an American man."

I think it is interesting that Uncle feels threatened by Taslima. He came to the United States to prosper, but he has a hard time adapting to the American way of living per say. Many parents would be proud to have a well educated daughter like Taslima, but Uncle is ashamed to be showed up by his.

Ch. 9 Quote 3/10

"It's like my brain is suddenly sharp and clear, though I'm moving real slow, and I know what my move is two steps ahead of me. Aisha is the one who can flash with quick ideas, but sometimes she gets overexcited and stressed out, and she loses track of what she's trying to say."

I'm glad that Nadira is finally recognizing her strengths. In the past, she always thought of Aisha as the ideal. She is recognizing now that moving at a steady pace and thinking things out can be more efficient than speeding and losing your head. 

Ch. 8 Quote 3/9

"'I'm scared,' she whispers. 'I'm scared for Abba.' It's as if Aisha is finally saying what we're both afraid to imagine: Abba crouched in a cold dark cell. Abba sitting at some table with a ceiling lamp glaring down on his face. Are they badgering him with questions? Letting him sleep and bath and pray? Beating him with a stick until the bruises show like dark flowers?"

This is one of the first times we see Aisha really worried that something will not work out. In her perfect world, she can fix anything that will go wrong because she knows all the answers. This time it is out of her control. I think Nadira will have an easier time coping with their family's situation because she didn't fall as far as Aisha.

Response to "Wetback" 3/6

I am amazed that a person would cross three countries illegally to reach the United States. The journey from Mexico sounds difficult enough. I can't help but feel sympathy for these men despite my views on undocumented immigration. The circumstances in Nicaragua must be very bad considering they are willing to risk their lives thrice.

I feel that I can't really compare the journey of these two men with that of Nadira's family. The two situations are just so different. Nayo and Milton are crossing three borders illegally on foot and by bus, while Nadira's family flew from Bangladesh to the United States with visas.

Ch. 5 Quote 3/4

"I like staying quiet and still, taking in the words of the grownups. Only sometimes it feels lonely being this way, as if their voices are turning to heavy stone. Sometimes I wish I could lift out of myself and do something that really counts."

Nadira notices much more than people give her credit for. She listens closely to her family members and she knows a lot about them, especially Aisha. In time I hope that Nardira uses this knowledge to become closer to her sister.

Ch. 6 Quote 3/3

“Strange, nasty thoughts swarm into my head. I’ve never made my sister cry before. It seems impossible Aisha is too strong, too smart for me. But this is different. It’s like having a new kind of power, black and ugly, like what Uncle did to me this morning. And the weird thing is: I like it.”

I think it is completely understandable that Nadira gets some pleasure out of humiliating her sister. Of course what she did was wrong, but Nadira puts up with all of the nasty things that Aisha spits at her. This is the first time she has fought for herself, and it makes her feel empowered, something she doesn’t experience often, if ever.

Ch. 6 Quote 3/3

“Strange, nasty thoughts swarm into my head. I’ve never made my sister cry before. It seems impossible Aisha is too strong, too smart for me. But this is different. It’s like having a new kind of power, black and ugly, like what Uncle did to me this morning. And the weird thing is: I like it.”

I think it is completely understandable that Nadira gets some pleasure out of humiliating her sister. Of course what she did was wrong, but Nadira puts up with all of the nasty things that Aisha spits at her. This is the first time she has fought for herself, and it makes her feel empowered, something she doesn’t experience often, if ever.

Response to Elana's Post, "chapters 3 and 4 quote" 3/2

In her post, Elana states that she thinks it is sad that Nadira's family doesn't live like privileged Americans. While I agree that poverty is a serious issue, I believe that Nadira speaks of her home in Bangladesh with appreciation. She is proud of where she came from and her family seemed to live a happy life until the British invaded in the early 1900's.

I think we need to get it out of our minds that everyone wants the "American Dream." Many people treasure their culture and their ancestor's traditions. For example, even though Nadira's family had a supposedly better life in the United States, Mama was still unhappy and wished to return to Bangladesh where life was familiar to her.

Ch. 3 Quote 3/1

"The water rose, and you went with it, like the reeds that leaned and bent outside."

I love this quote because it is a metaphor for life. During the war, Nadira's family had to adapt to their new circumstances and relocate in Dhaka. Now Nadira and Aisha have to adapt and survive without parents. It may not be easy, but in time I think the sisters will learn to support each other.