The Kitchen Table

The Kitchen Table

The other day I sat across from my mom

at our kitchen table

scuffed from years of dinners and art projects

the wood worn down

it had lost its shine.

I remember when I could still see my reflection

in its mahogany glaze,

When my feet couldn’t reach the floor

and I could barely see over the edge of the table.

It was a simpler time.

Now,

sitting across from you

the disease eating away at your mind

I plead you to remember, however

your memory,

like this table

has been worn down over the years.

I remember when you’d pick me up, look into my eyes and

bring me to your chest

I could feel your warmth

radiating through me

Now,

looking at you

sitting across this kitchen table,

I see an empty shell where you used to be.

I reach into the holes in your memory

trying to find that same warmth you had

I shudder

as I am greeted only by the cold.

The light has gone out of your eyes, glazed over

you seem to stare right through me.

And I long for the times when

my feet couldn’t reach the floor

and I could barely see over the edge of the table,

because now seeing you

sitting across from me

I don’t see my mother,

I see her disease.

Amir's Changing View of Afghanistan

Amir's Changing View of Afghanistan

In the focused foreground of the image, we see rubble and dried, dead leaves, revealing Amir's immediate view of his country after he returns to Kabul several years later. The rubble depicts the current state of Afghanistan as it is in ruins since the Taliban has stormed through the cities, as opposed to the strong and sturdy flower standing upright in the background of the image. In addition to its beauty, the flower is also unfocused like Amir's distant memories of his home in Kabul which has become hazy and blurred over time. The vibrant color that remains on the flower contrasts to the decaying state of Afghanistan, portrayed by the dead leaves, ultimately showing Amir's fading hope for what the country could have been. 

Nelson Mandela's Legacy

Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” said Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid politician and philanthropist. From 1994 to 1999, Mandela was president of South Africa, and one of his biggest challenges was rehabilitating the educational system, which lay in ruins after the apartheid era, in order to give generations of children in South Africa the opportunity for a brighter future.

This was definitely easier said than done, as information from the World Economic Forum's index shows just how greatly the country's educational system has suffered due to South Africa's underdevelopment, and today it's overall system ranks at 140 out of 144 countries (Holborn). But what factors have contributed to such underdeveloped schooling?

Since the end of apartheid in 1994, race issues have become more prevalent as the apartheid ideas have made a significant impact in society and education today. The race gap is a disadvantage to many black children who are trying to get an education as apartheid ideals are still carrying into the education system. The main problem at hand is that the white community in South Africa is still unwilling to have an integrated school system, and as a result the government has created four racially separate ones (Wren). Consequently, the government invests four times as much for the education of white children as opposed to black or mixed race ones. From this it becomes evident that the government still plays a heavy hand in the educational system in South Africa, which according to an article by NGO Pulse is because they are trying to make sure that “apartheid’s policies are implemented effectively.”

In addition to race affecting the quality of education, for some, income and region have played a significant role in the accessibility to education. Research conducted in South Africa by the Center for Universal Education at Brookings reveals that even of the small percentage of the population that has the opportunity to get an education, 33.7% of them are not learning. By taking a closer look at this population, the gaps in society and in the education of South Africa are becoming harder and harder to ignore. In the article, it says, "On average, poor and rural children are at a much greater learning disadvantage than their wealthy, urban peers," which can only hurt them in the future (Greubel).

According to BBC News, in a far away town called Sibasa, located in the Limpopo province of South Africa, despite poor classroom conditions, Mbilwi Secondary School recently achieved a 100% pass rate for the school leaving exam, meaning there is still hope for South Africa. Since Mandela’s death in 2013, representatives have been trying to finish what he started and reforms to the government and society’s race issues are currently underway. In addition, a program called AIMS has been put in place to help those who maybe can't afford an education or don't have access to one due to the area he or she lives in, finally giving these disadvantaged people the opportunity for an education. “Transforming Africa,” by Neil Turok describes how the AIMS program not only improves one's life and his or her education, but it also improves the state of the country as many of those who graduate from its program remain in Africa and work to better develop it for future generations.

It is with programs such as this one, along with eager students such as the ones located in the poor classrooms of Limpopo, that when armed with the right knowledge, these future generations have the ability to make the world that Nelson Mandela once dreamed of, a reality. 

Works Cited:

Haggard, Stephen. "African education 2.0: with the focus moving from universal primary

education to the issue of achievement, could technology help Africa upgrade its schooling system?" African Business July 2015: 70+. Global Issues In Context. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

Greubel, Laura, Kevin Watkins, and Justin W. Van Fleet. "Africa Learning Barometer." The Brookings Institution. 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.

Holborn, Lucy. "Education in South Africa: Where Did It Go Wrong?" NGO Pulse. 11 Sept. 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.

Nkosi, Milton. "Is South Africa's Education System Really 'in Crisis'? - BBC News." BBC News. 29 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

Turok, Neil. "Transforming Africa, one student at a time." Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada]

2 July 2010: A15. Global Issues In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2016.

Wren, Christopher S. "South Africa to Tackle Race Gap in Education." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Feb. 1991. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

With Ignorance You Cannot See

Sijie uses Four Eyes’ glasses as a symbol of coming of age throughout the book. Four Eyes is dependent on his glasses, and in a way, he hides behind them. Four Eyes is kind of a cowardly person, and his glasses represent that. Additionally, the fact that Four Eyes wears glasses shows that he can be blind and closed minded, especially to other people’s opinions. He is only focused on his own goal and nothing else. When Four Eyes’ glasses become broken, he depends on his mom to send him another one. This shows that he is dependent on his parents, and also that his glasses represent his hopes of getting out of re-education to reunite with them. His mom is the one that helps him get new glasses as well as get out of re-education, and without his glasses, he can’t work in the fields or do anything else. He is using Luo and the narrator in this way, because he doesn’t actually consider them friends, he is just using them to get out of the re-education system.

Another idea through the symbolism of Four Eyes’ glasses is how the buffalo is the one that knocks them off, and in effect, breaks them. The buffalo represents the peasants and whole re-education system, and how the buffalo is taking away what Four Eyes needs and also his chance to get out. Throughout the book, Four Eyes does change, but the glasses just represent how he acts as his parents taught him to and he becomes more and more like that; he uses people to get what he wants behind a cowardly facade.

“The buffalo was of medium size, but boasted an exceptionally long tail, which swung vigorously from side to side as though determined to splatter its timid, inexperienced master with as much filth as possible. For all of his efforts to dodge the relentless lashes, one split second of inattention was enough for Four-Eyes to receive a blow to the face from the buffalo’s trail, which sent his spectacles hurtling through the air...he let out a stream of abuse, as if he had been blinded” (47).

“‘I’ve written to my mother. She’s going to send me a new pair as soon as possible, but I can’t sit and do nothing until they arrive. I’ve got to work, that’s what I’m here for. At least that’s what the headman says.’ He talked very rapidly, as if he had no time to waste on us” (53).

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang

The Tao.

Simple,

Like a cloud drifting through an empty sky.

Effortless,

Like the last leaf falling off a tree.

The Tao.

As pure as the snow at the peak of a mountain.

As clear as the reflection looking back at you in a puddle.

The Tao is warm.

The Tao is bright.

The Tao is everything.

The Tao is white.

The Tao.

Rigid,

Like the spine on the back of a newly printed book.

Messy,

Like a kindergartener's art project.

The Tao.

As corrupt as today’s society.

As clouded as a window pane after a shower.

The Tao is cool.

The Tao is dim.

The Tao is nothing.

The Tao is black.

Can You Handle the Truth?

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