I'm reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez.
Earlier during the school year we discussed tragedy transforming from September 11th in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Deborah Rodriguez hopes to do the exact same thing, only in Afghanistan instead of the United states.
"Still, I felt a new burst of determination. I wanted to make sure that the beauty school- and the chance that it offered the women of Afghanistan- would be one of the good things to come out of September 11th" (97-98).
The beauty School that Debbie wants to create an atmosphere would empower many Afghan women because they would have the ability to earn a living. They wouldn't feel like they were under the control of their husbands so much if they were able to be financially independent. Women would learn how to be beauticians and learn how to keep the products and tools sanitary, which is a large issue in Afghanistan. She also creates strong relationships with the women and is someone that they can confide in. Debbie believes that the Beauty School originated around September 11th because that is why she went to Kabul in the first place, to help rebuild their city and society.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was the first book I read that really discussed a positive impact of September 11th. I didn't think that this book would discuss it so much, but it does and Debbie sees the positive aspects which is nice because I hear and read a lot about the negative aspects.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Post 5A
I've been reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez.
VOCABULARY
rotary (164) - (noun) a traffic circle
pandemonium (120) - (noun) wild uproar, unrestrained disorder, chaos
APPEALS
1. "The I whirled around, flipping up my burqa, and punched him full in the face" (167). This is an emotional appeal. Debbie was upset because a man had groped her and women normally do nothing when this happens in Afghanistan.
2. "After we hung around and ate some dinner, I thought back to my disaster relief training in 2001, before I'd even known where Afghanistan was on the map" (100). This is a logical appeal because Debbie is remembering a specific date.
3. "We had a lot of fun that night, getting away for a few hours from the dusty, crowded, complicated Kabul just outside the gate. We went back two days later, and it was all gone" (93). This is an emotional appeal. Debbie remembers how much fun she had at a club that was owned by 'westerners'. However, it was shut down by the government in less than two days.
QUOTE
"Suraya was taking notes and translating, and I kept asking her why each woman had been imprisoned. One of them was there because she had been raped. One was there because she had been raped and her husband had killed the rapist. He was also in prison, but her term was longer. Several young girls were there because they had tried to run away with their boyfriends... (the stories continue).... The stories wereall horrible, but the young girl weeping in my ear- imprisoned because she had fled her abusive husband-did me in. I cried and cried, until I embarrassed Suraya" (107-108). I think it is terrible that all of these women are in prison. The laws in Afghanistan are so different than the laws here. Abusive husbands and rapists are sent to prison here, not the abused and the raped. This was appalling.
THEME
An emerging theme in this book is love; Debbie felt like she had friends in America, but found so many characters that she befriended and loved in Afghanistan.
VOCABULARY
rotary (164) - (noun) a traffic circle
pandemonium (120) - (noun) wild uproar, unrestrained disorder, chaos
APPEALS
1. "The I whirled around, flipping up my burqa, and punched him full in the face" (167). This is an emotional appeal. Debbie was upset because a man had groped her and women normally do nothing when this happens in Afghanistan.
2. "After we hung around and ate some dinner, I thought back to my disaster relief training in 2001, before I'd even known where Afghanistan was on the map" (100). This is a logical appeal because Debbie is remembering a specific date.
3. "We had a lot of fun that night, getting away for a few hours from the dusty, crowded, complicated Kabul just outside the gate. We went back two days later, and it was all gone" (93). This is an emotional appeal. Debbie remembers how much fun she had at a club that was owned by 'westerners'. However, it was shut down by the government in less than two days.
QUOTE
"Suraya was taking notes and translating, and I kept asking her why each woman had been imprisoned. One of them was there because she had been raped. One was there because she had been raped and her husband had killed the rapist. He was also in prison, but her term was longer. Several young girls were there because they had tried to run away with their boyfriends... (the stories continue).... The stories wereall horrible, but the young girl weeping in my ear- imprisoned because she had fled her abusive husband-did me in. I cried and cried, until I embarrassed Suraya" (107-108). I think it is terrible that all of these women are in prison. The laws in Afghanistan are so different than the laws here. Abusive husbands and rapists are sent to prison here, not the abused and the raped. This was appalling.
THEME
An emerging theme in this book is love; Debbie felt like she had friends in America, but found so many characters that she befriended and loved in Afghanistan.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Post 4B
I'm currently reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez and find it fascinating!!
Dear Debbie,
WOW!! You are so corageous, driven, and motivated! When describing your younger life, you sounded as if you had no life goals and would be stuck in an abusive marraige forever and become another stereotype. I'm amazed by how much your life has turned around and how inspired you have become when you seemed a bit lazy earlier in the book. Who knew you were such a go-getter?!
You seem to really know what you want and I think that you have very good priorities. I can imagine it was no easy task trying to get started all by yourself and probably only one in a million would be able to handle it as well as you did.
On of the largest hurdles for you was your husband. "'I hope you die in Afghanistan,' he said. 'I'd rather die than live here with you,' I replied. A door in my heart opened, and the tiny peice of him left inside me tumbled out" (65). I know that that took guts for you to say that because you spent most of your life living in fear and always felt like you needed his (or another male figure's) permission to do something important in your life.
I'm so excited to see how your beauty school turns out! I bet it will be amazing and you will find something that you truly enjoy doing. I'm also excited to hear about more of your Afghan friends' interesting stories. It was hard for me to put the book down whe I was reading Roshana's story. Keep up the hard (yet fun) work you are doing in Kabul!!!
Annie
Dear Debbie,
WOW!! You are so corageous, driven, and motivated! When describing your younger life, you sounded as if you had no life goals and would be stuck in an abusive marraige forever and become another stereotype. I'm amazed by how much your life has turned around and how inspired you have become when you seemed a bit lazy earlier in the book. Who knew you were such a go-getter?!
You seem to really know what you want and I think that you have very good priorities. I can imagine it was no easy task trying to get started all by yourself and probably only one in a million would be able to handle it as well as you did.
On of the largest hurdles for you was your husband. "'I hope you die in Afghanistan,' he said. 'I'd rather die than live here with you,' I replied. A door in my heart opened, and the tiny peice of him left inside me tumbled out" (65). I know that that took guts for you to say that because you spent most of your life living in fear and always felt like you needed his (or another male figure's) permission to do something important in your life.
I'm so excited to see how your beauty school turns out! I bet it will be amazing and you will find something that you truly enjoy doing. I'm also excited to hear about more of your Afghan friends' interesting stories. It was hard for me to put the book down whe I was reading Roshana's story. Keep up the hard (yet fun) work you are doing in Kabul!!!
Annie
Post 4A
Vocabulary
1. mullah (p. 77)- (n.) a male religious teacher or leader in Islamic countries.
2. grit (p. 82)- (n.) tiny rough granules, often in sand or from stone.
Appeals
1. "And that was it- the last big hurdle before I left for Afghanistan early in 2003 to meet the shipping container" (72). Debbie is determined to open a beauty school in Afghanistan and recalls the last few steps before leaving. This is a logical appeal because Debbie is chronologically retelling events.
2. "'Hey, Ms. International Hairdresser,' the voice on the other end said. 'This is J.P.'" (68). This is an emotional appeal because the reader is happy and excited for Debbie, and Debbie is shocked. J.P. is the owner of Paul Mitchell and he wants to help Debbie and be on a first name basis.
3. "So instead of flying to Kabul, I wound up flying to New York for a week of special training in makeup application at M.A.C. Cosmetics, which had donated about thirty thousand dollars worth of makeup to the school"(72). This is a logical appeal. Rodriguez is crediting M.A.C. Cosmetics and this quote shows how much prgress she has been making on her school and what a big deal and accomplishment it is.
Quote
"'Do you have anyone to unload this stuff?' he said, jerking his thumb at the huge truck that was fuming at the bottom of my driveway. 'Just me,' I said. He looked me over and sighed. 'You don't happen to have a forklift, do you?' 'Just a wheelbarrow.' I moved the cars, the snow blower, and the lawn mower out of the garage as my husband watched from the living room" (69). Debbie starts out with nothing, but she won't let anything get in her way. Her husband is very unsupportive and stands and watches her and another person unload a large truck without even offering to move his car.
Theme
An emerging theme in the book is perseverance; Debbie starts out with nothing but never gives up on helping the Afghan women, no matter what problem she is facing.
1. mullah (p. 77)- (n.) a male religious teacher or leader in Islamic countries.
2. grit (p. 82)- (n.) tiny rough granules, often in sand or from stone.
Appeals
1. "And that was it- the last big hurdle before I left for Afghanistan early in 2003 to meet the shipping container" (72). Debbie is determined to open a beauty school in Afghanistan and recalls the last few steps before leaving. This is a logical appeal because Debbie is chronologically retelling events.
2. "'Hey, Ms. International Hairdresser,' the voice on the other end said. 'This is J.P.'" (68). This is an emotional appeal because the reader is happy and excited for Debbie, and Debbie is shocked. J.P. is the owner of Paul Mitchell and he wants to help Debbie and be on a first name basis.
3. "So instead of flying to Kabul, I wound up flying to New York for a week of special training in makeup application at M.A.C. Cosmetics, which had donated about thirty thousand dollars worth of makeup to the school"(72). This is a logical appeal. Rodriguez is crediting M.A.C. Cosmetics and this quote shows how much prgress she has been making on her school and what a big deal and accomplishment it is.
Quote
"'Do you have anyone to unload this stuff?' he said, jerking his thumb at the huge truck that was fuming at the bottom of my driveway. 'Just me,' I said. He looked me over and sighed. 'You don't happen to have a forklift, do you?' 'Just a wheelbarrow.' I moved the cars, the snow blower, and the lawn mower out of the garage as my husband watched from the living room" (69). Debbie starts out with nothing, but she won't let anything get in her way. Her husband is very unsupportive and stands and watches her and another person unload a large truck without even offering to move his car.
Theme
An emerging theme in the book is perseverance; Debbie starts out with nothing but never gives up on helping the Afghan women, no matter what problem she is facing.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Post 3B
I am reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez and I am enjoying it very much!!!
Debbie has a lot of problems trying to figure out what to do with her life in the beginning of the book and is unhappy with her life. She married her high school sweetheart and had two kids, but later got divorced because he was a jerk. She also didn't know what she wanted her occupation to be, so she worked as a prison gaurd and then followed in her mother's footsteps and became a hairdresser. However, she didn't believe that she really had a purpose and didn't enjoy her life.
"All the time I had been married to him, my only salvation was that he had no idea how much money I made. I stashed it away, saving up for my freedom. I figured that the salon business would be even better in Afghanistan, where the men aren't allowed to step inside the salons" (55).
Women do not have to be living in a place like Afghnaistan to feel like their lives are in the control of men. Debbie had limited freedom in her earlier life because her husband had been overpowering. Having her own means of making a decent amount of money helped her become an independent woman. Debbie is right when saying that salons would be a good way for a woman to gain control over her life in Afghanistan because they are operated and seen only by women and men have no business in the industry. I think that Debbie's idea is great and inspiring!!!
Debbie has a lot of problems trying to figure out what to do with her life in the beginning of the book and is unhappy with her life. She married her high school sweetheart and had two kids, but later got divorced because he was a jerk. She also didn't know what she wanted her occupation to be, so she worked as a prison gaurd and then followed in her mother's footsteps and became a hairdresser. However, she didn't believe that she really had a purpose and didn't enjoy her life.
"All the time I had been married to him, my only salvation was that he had no idea how much money I made. I stashed it away, saving up for my freedom. I figured that the salon business would be even better in Afghanistan, where the men aren't allowed to step inside the salons" (55).
Women do not have to be living in a place like Afghnaistan to feel like their lives are in the control of men. Debbie had limited freedom in her earlier life because her husband had been overpowering. Having her own means of making a decent amount of money helped her become an independent woman. Debbie is right when saying that salons would be a good way for a woman to gain control over her life in Afghanistan because they are operated and seen only by women and men have no business in the industry. I think that Debbie's idea is great and inspiring!!!
Post 3A
Vocabulary
brawling (59)- fighting loudly, noisily (verb)
vestibule (51)- a passage or hall beteen the outside and inside of a building (noun)
brothels (51)- prostitution houses (noun)
Appeals
1. "Two hairdressers turned to greet us. One was young and thin with deep-set dark eyes; the other, older woman had frizzy, chin-length hair" (p. 51). This is a logical appeal because the descriptions of the two women help you imagine them while you read.
brawling (59)- fighting loudly, noisily (verb)
vestibule (51)- a passage or hall beteen the outside and inside of a building (noun)
brothels (51)- prostitution houses (noun)
Appeals
1. "Two hairdressers turned to greet us. One was young and thin with deep-set dark eyes; the other, older woman had frizzy, chin-length hair" (p. 51). This is a logical appeal because the descriptions of the two women help you imagine them while you read.
2. "It seemed that I had discovered the one thing that I could do to help the Afgans- and only I, out of all the talented and dedicated Westerners I'd met here, could do it" (p. 54). This is an emotional appeal because Debbie is feeling confident and excited about helping the Afghan people and realizes what she must do.
3. "But after a few months, I was on compassion overload. I was just too much of a bleeding heart to work in the prison" (p. 59). This is an emotional appeal because Debbie is realizing that she could never be an authoritative figure in a prison. She even befriended the inmates!
Quote
"Whenever I do something, I do it to the extreme, so in a couple of months I knew every club in the area and every person an every barstool" (p. 60). Debbie is a very dedicated person and a real go-getter. This is a good trait in life because if you know that you want something, you'll do it and not let anything hold you back. However I think Debbie's priorities in her earlier life were a bit messed up, so I'm glad that she finally channeled her traits of dedication and perseverence in a good way to help the people of Afghanistan.
Theme
One emerging theme in this memoir is finding yourself; Debbie overcame a lot of obstacles in her younger life and finally found something that will make her happy.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Week 2, Post B
I'm reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez.
Dear Debbie,
I'm enjoying your book Kabul Beauty School very much! I'm amazed by how similar yet different life is in Afghanistan and I'm so glad to hear that you have finally found your calling. It was very corageous and selfless of you to go to Afghanistan and try to make a difference and help the world become a better place. I can imagine how being a hairdresser in a group full of doctors, nurses, dentists, and many other people who were considered more accomplished than you must have made you feel small and insignificant. I would be completely bored and angered if I had to do their laundry and other household work like as a maid when I had other goals and intentions in mind. I think everyone knows what its like to feel inferior, unimportant, and that you can not make a difference.
It must have been so exciting to hear such an applause from the CFAF audience that you were so shy (and somewhat afraid of!) with earlier that night!! Did you ever think that you would still be a hairdresser in Kabul? Did you ever think that there was a need for people in the beauty professions? With all of the make-up that the women wear, I was surprised that the women in Kabul said that there was no decent salon in town. I've never really thought about it, but your book makes me realize just how important all of the professions are that people don't consider very important or accomplished. Your book is very well-written and an easy read, yet extremely thought-provoking and eye-opening for me.
Sincerely,
Annie
Dear Debbie,
I'm enjoying your book Kabul Beauty School very much! I'm amazed by how similar yet different life is in Afghanistan and I'm so glad to hear that you have finally found your calling. It was very corageous and selfless of you to go to Afghanistan and try to make a difference and help the world become a better place. I can imagine how being a hairdresser in a group full of doctors, nurses, dentists, and many other people who were considered more accomplished than you must have made you feel small and insignificant. I would be completely bored and angered if I had to do their laundry and other household work like as a maid when I had other goals and intentions in mind. I think everyone knows what its like to feel inferior, unimportant, and that you can not make a difference.
It must have been so exciting to hear such an applause from the CFAF audience that you were so shy (and somewhat afraid of!) with earlier that night!! Did you ever think that you would still be a hairdresser in Kabul? Did you ever think that there was a need for people in the beauty professions? With all of the make-up that the women wear, I was surprised that the women in Kabul said that there was no decent salon in town. I've never really thought about it, but your book makes me realize just how important all of the professions are that people don't consider very important or accomplished. Your book is very well-written and an easy read, yet extremely thought-provoking and eye-opening for me.
Sincerely,
Annie
Week 2, Post A
VOCABULARY
Flanked (47)-gaurded on both sides. (v.)
Gingerly (40)- carefully, warily, with caution. (adv.)
APPEALS
1. "Inside, there were about 150 people milling around, eating cookies and introducing themselves, passing out business cards and telling one another about the projects they were involved in" (38). This is a logical appeal. Debbie feels inferior compared to the 150 accomplished people in the room.
"Daud and Muqim would let themselvesfly off the swings at the high point, timble on the grass, and joke about who had gone the farthest. I'd have to laugh, remembering that these were the scary Afghan men that half the world was afraid of" (p. 41). Debbie is trying to prove that the stereotypes put on Middle Easteners are very rarely true. The world is not as dark and terrible as people may think.
THEME
A theme in this novel is that everyone one has a talent and can use it to make the world a better place; Debbie thought that she was a useless hairdresser at first and now she realizes how important and needed she can be.
Flanked (47)-gaurded on both sides. (v.)
Gingerly (40)- carefully, warily, with caution. (adv.)
APPEALS
1. "Inside, there were about 150 people milling around, eating cookies and introducing themselves, passing out business cards and telling one another about the projects they were involved in" (38). This is a logical appeal. Debbie feels inferior compared to the 150 accomplished people in the room.
2. "'We're so glad you're here!' said the woman who got to my side before any of the others" (39). This is an emotional appeal. Debbie is relieved when the women express the need af a good salon in Kabul. This is the turning point of her night and purpose in Afghanistan.
3. "I planted my feet and stared back. 'Have you taken a good look at the Afghan women? They wear a lot more makeup than I do'" (43). This is an emotional appeal. Debbie takes her first stand against one of her accomplished colleagues. She believes he has no right to tell her how to look.
QUOTE"Daud and Muqim would let themselvesfly off the swings at the high point, timble on the grass, and joke about who had gone the farthest. I'd have to laugh, remembering that these were the scary Afghan men that half the world was afraid of" (p. 41). Debbie is trying to prove that the stereotypes put on Middle Easteners are very rarely true. The world is not as dark and terrible as people may think.
THEME
A theme in this novel is that everyone one has a talent and can use it to make the world a better place; Debbie thought that she was a useless hairdresser at first and now she realizes how important and needed she can be.
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