The Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li-Jiang
Post by Giulia Di Bella
Connection Captain
Prologue, Chapters 1-2
Week 1
Feb 3rd 2015
*quotes from the book highlighted in blue
While reading the first few chapters of this book, I was able to make some connections. One of the was a connection to the scene in which Ji-Li-Jiang was asked to do the back bend. That definitely reminded me of a time in which I was facing the same situation as she was. I was going through a body-skills evaluation and I was asked to do all sorts of moves and skills for my gymnastics team, just to show that I was still on the team. Every year we (my team and I) would have to be evaluated on that and when I read this part of the book, the very first thing that came to my mind was that scene of my life and how I felt before and after it. I noticed that I was connected in that way to the little Chinese girl from the novel.
I can really relate to this event because the evaluation, both for Ji-Li-Jiang and for me, were to see if we could be accepted for something special, which in both cases, was a ‘group'. She was going through a strict evaluation to see if she would be accepted into the Liberation Army Academy . My case however, was that I was doing the evaluation to see if I would be accepted for my gymnastics elite team in my club. Although these two events were very different one from another, they both have a connection… Both were evaluation tests to see if we would pass and be accepted.
Another aspect that was similar from my experience and Ji-Li-Jiang’s was that both of us were extremely happy after the evaluation and after being complimented and congratulated.
“It’s lucky I studied martial arts for so long. When the Liberation Army woman saw my back bend, she just loved it.” I twirled around on my toes {…}
-That was what Ji-Li-Jiang said as soon as she got home to her parents and Grandma. We could really feel her excitement and happiness.
After all these similarities, I noticed that there was one fact that was different from both situations, and it was that I knew what I was shooting for, she, for one, didn’t. Not until after she took the test. (But that was just a minor observation.)
Anyways, in the end, I noticed that I could connect to many things from this event, and notice how similar me and Ji-Li-Jiang were when it came to this event. I could connect to many things such as feelings, reactions, same events, and even same exercise. As coincidental as this may sound, I also was evaluated on how far I could bend back, and in the end, my coaches (the evaluators) also congratulated me for being able to touch my feet. Just like in page 4, the following happened:
“I want to see how flexible you are. Let me lift your leg,” the Liberation Army woman said in her gentle voice. She raised my right leg over my head in front of me. “Very good! Now I’ll support you. Lean over backward as far as you can.” That was easy. I bent backward until I could grab my ankles like an acrobat. “That’s great!” she said, and her braids swung with excitement.
This is a good post Guilia! I have never been in a situation like you have, where you have to be evaluated. However,can you connect with her in any other way? Maybe it the relationship with her siblings. That's how I can connect with Jiang, the way she treats her little sister.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should go a little deeper into Jiangs life, and the way she felt about things. That way, it would help push your thinking deeper under the surface.
This is a good post Guilia! I have never been in a situation like you have, where you have to be evaluated. However,can you connect with her in any other way? Maybe it the relationship with her siblings. That's how I can connect with Jiang, the way she treats her little sister.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should go a little deeper into Jiangs life, and the way she felt about things. That way, it would help push your thinking deeper under the surface.