IRP Posts 5

People:

Chairman: Chiyo comes in contact with the Chairman again and they finally are able to express their true feelings for each other.

Mameha: Mameha is not with the Baron anymore because of the war. The Baron committed suicide and she is left as a lonely but independent geisha.

Nobu: Nobu is still in love with Chiyo but she will never be close in understanding his love. He finally gives up on her when she is rumored to have been seen with a man in a separate room.

Events & Places:

After the war is over, Nobu comes and asks Chiyo to come back to the geisha life. Although everyone is having a hard time, he believes that Chiyo will bring back the true tradition of a geisha. So she decides to go back and asks Mameha to join her. After couple of her trips back to the tea houses, she is back to her normal geisha life again. When Nobu decided that his company was organized again, he prepared to propose to Chiyo to become her danna. However, Chiyo is terrified because she can't imagine herself with Nobu for a long time. She decides to decieve Nobu by making up fake rumors so that he will not like her anymore. One day Chiyo gets a message that she has a guest waiting for her at the tea house. She expects it to be Nobu but she found out that it was Chairman who has been waiting for her. He tells her how he had been unable to stop his feeling towards her. He has secretly admired Chiyo very much but was unable to tell how he flet to Chiyo because he knew that Nobu had strong feelings for her. Chiyo finally tells her true feelings to her as well and they are together.

Symbols:

Tea house: Tea house is where all the important events happen and where things are created and talked about. During this chapter, the tea house is very important since it's the place where the Chairman and Chiyo got together.

Themes & Ideas: I think the fact that at the last scene, the two main character being frank about their feelings and such actions were so meaningful. It must have meant a lot for these characters since their love took such a long time. I think the theme for the past few chapters are magical and truth. The ending was so pretty and magical, after they have told each other the true feelings.

Connections & Questions:

I understand how it must have been for Chiyo to keep quiet about how she felt towards someone she has loved for so long. I felt relieved that the Chairman acted manly and actually told her the truth. Although I felt bad for Nobu as well, I still think it is great that the Chairman and Chiyo are together. The ending was really magical but I think after all those years of hardship, both characters deserve the happiness.

IRP Blog Post 4

People:

Nobu: Nobu is a co worker at the Itzumuera electricity. He has a disfigured body because he was at a war and has lost one of his arm and has a horrible burn on his side of the face. He is also a close friend of the Chairman. He takes interest in Chiyo (Sayuri) as soon as he encounters her. When it was time for Chiyo to become a real geisha, she gives Nobu a sign that she would like him to bet on her mitzuwage which is basically a ceremony where you are losing your virginity to become a geisha.

Dr. Crab: Dr. Crab also takes a notice in Chiyo and Mameha's plan for Chiyo is to have the two men (Dr. Crab and Nobu) to get in a betting fight so that Chiyo's mitzuage value will increase. The final winner is Dr. Crab.

Pumpkin: Pumpkin is Chiyo's friend from the first time she came to the okiya. Pumpkin helped Chiyo get through everything by helping her attend school. Although Pumpkin's older sister became Hatsumomo, she wasn't as evil as Hatsumomo was. Later, mother decides to adopt her and pass the okiya to her when she dies but this plan changes and Chiyo is adopted. This event breaks up Chiyo and Pumpkin's relationship because she dearly wanted to become adopted.

Events & Places:

By meeting Mameha and becoming her younger sister, Chiyo is finally on training with Mameha to become a geisha. Since they had little time compared to Pumpkin who became their rivals, they decide to focus on their training as quickly as possible. Finally time comes for Chiyo to have her mitzuage for betting. After she has her mitzuage ceremony done, she can finally become a full geisha. Although Nobu had serious feelings for Chiyo, he did not bet and the final winner was Dr. Crab and Chiyo was awarded with the most betting money in history. This angers Hatsumomo and she finally gives up when mother decides to adopt Chiyo instead of Pumpkin. Chiyo and Mameha achieves what they longed for but Chiyo is still not happy since she is unable to have a relationship with the Chairman. In the midst of these events, a war breaks out and people are sent to havens for safety. Nobu, sends Chiyo to a safe place and is told to stay there until the war is over. Chiyo lives a peasant life for a couple of years.

Symbols:

Virginity-I think this was a serious thing for geisha's at the time to have because in order to become a high end geisha, it was crucial that they had a chance to do their mitzuage properly and stay "worthy".

Themes & Idea:

Jealousy: Pumpkin is extremely jealous of Chiyo since she seems to get everything that Pumpkin has always wished for. This upsets Pumpkin and their friendship finally break up when Hatsumomo abandons Pumpkin after Chiyo is adopted.

I think the idea of following your heart is crucial in these few chapters because Chiyo is awfully upset that she can't be together with the chairman. She stands in the pathway of being in love with the chairman and following her heart or to become a great geisha without having to love.

Connections and Questions:

I was able to really connect with Chiyo in these few chapters because I knew how hard it was for her to become a geisha but at the same time, she was so limited to sharing her feelings. She says "If Nobu was beyond my reach, how much more unreachable the Chairman must be. Since finding him again at the sumo exhibition, I'd begun to think of all the possibilities life presented to me." (p.212) I think if I was her, I would have tried to get both of her desires but I don't think it will work out for her. Some of the questions popped up while I was reading these chapters because I was limited to the different culture that Japan had at the time. I thought it was too young for Chiyo to be going around in tea houses and prepare to loose her virginity when she was only fifteen. Maybe that's how things were back then, but I still feel like that is way too fast.

Here is a video of what geisha's life is like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Tr_yDdwRQ

IRP Blog Post 2

People

The Chairman: When Chiyo was in misery one day, she meets a man that soothes her pain. He is surrounded by geishas and this is the reason that motivates Chiyo to become a geisha. She really likes him and she wants to meet him again. Later when she does become a geisha, she encounters again.

Hatsumomo: Chiyo's worst enemy from the okiya. They both hate each other because Hatsumomo is afraid that later in her life, Chiyo will be taking her place in the geisha world. Hatsumomo has a face that every geisha envies, but her personality is something that no one will ever imagine. She spreads rumors about Chiyo so that Chiyo will be unsuccessful. This only worked until a certain point.

Mameha: Mameha is the "older-sister" of Chiyo and is a nice person. She is also a rival of Hatsumomo but she doesn't do much since she knows that nothing good will come out of her. Mameha shapes up Chiyo to be the best geisha around the town. Mameha is technically the best geisha in Gion.

Symbols

Kimono: Kimono is definately a huge symbol in this book because it deals directly with a geisha and also describes the pain in wearing them as well. "Her kimono was yello, with willowy branches bearing lovely green and orange leaves..." Kimono is like the first impression for geishas and for many people during this time period. Also, kimono is the symbol of wealth.

Train: The train symbolizes the deepest sorrow for Chiyo. When she was travelling on the train one time, she couldn't bear the thought of remembering the day when she first came to the okiya with her sister. Train almost always reminded her of her family and the pain when she had to be separated from her sister.

Connections and Questions

When I read the part when Chiyo was finally able to become a geisha, I could really connect to how happy she was feeling because that's how I felt when I first found out that I was accepted to the college that I really wanted. Although this doesn't guarantee that I will become a doctor, but this path gave me a high possibility that later I can become one. I think that's how Chiyo felt. Since she knew that this opportunity was rare, she will try her best to become a successful geisha. One question that I had, reading this novel was how could the apprentice geisha be so young and able to become a geisha. They seem to encounter in the social world very fast and I wonder is this is okay.

RAFT

Ernesto is writing to Che, a letter, about anything(wild card).

Dear older me,
I hope you are still the same person I knew before.
I hope you are still filled with passion and optimism. I wonder if you became a doctor after all?
Right now I am on a journey with my good friend Alberto. Later in our lives, we will be talking about it like it was a great legend. I really am enjoying these days that I am spending with my friends and the different hosts. The people that we have met so far are very nice and generous. During the trip, I saw and experienced many things that I want you to hold on to forever. These memories are too precious to be forgotten. I hope I get a chance to come back to the places with Chichina. Although the trip was so difficult because we were using a motorcycle, I think it is still unique and exciting. I hope anyone who has a chance to do something outrageous like this, will take the chance and throw themselves in the opportunity.
I realized how many people thought it was "stupid" for me to be simply giving up my studious doctoral life and going on a journey like this. I understand why many people think this and I do have a good reason for this. I want to feel free, I want to be able to achieve something special that no one really dared to even think of . I wanted to go on an adventure and take a break from everything. Right now, or at least so far, I am not regretting my decision to come on this journey. I wonder what my parents are thinking as well. Hopefully they are not too upset that I won't be back soon. I hope they are all well and safe.
I just want you to know that many years later when you see this, I want you to remember what a great, lively person you were. You were young, full of spirit and had the courage to throw yourself into an unkown path. If there are times later in the future when you are in hardship, cheer up because you know you can get through it somehow. :)

-Ernesto Guevara

IRP Blog Post 1

Entry 1

Events & Places
"Yoroido?, You can't mean it. You, growing up in a dump like Yoroido. That's like making tea in a bucket!" (Golden 8)
The main character, Chiyo grew up in a poor city called Yoroido. Many people thought it was not the "right place" for her to grow up since later in her life, she became a fancy geisha. This book starts off as the present Chiyo, and it leads the story into her childhood life, told from Chiyo's memories. In Yoroido, she lived in a house right before the cliff. She calls it the "tipsy house" because it looked like at any moment, the house would fall into the cliff. The fact that she had a tough childhood makes her an interesting character because she is so contrasted by who she is now. However, most importantly, she meets Mr. Tanaka in Yoroido, which seems like an interesting event that can lead her to a better future.

Entry2
People
Chiyo: Chiyo is the main character so far, and later when she becomes a geisha, she changes her name to Sayuri, but for now, since it is about her childhood memories, Chiyo is used. She has a very soft and peaceful personality and after she meets Mr. Tanaka, she seems to become more mature and lady-like. When the story starts off, she is only nine years old.

Mother: Chiyo's mother is described as beautiful, old women who is always sick because of her muscle pain. She is predicted to die in the next couple chapters. Chiyo received the unique grey-blue eyed color from her mother.

Father: Chiyo doesn't really interact with her father because he is very quiet and never really friendly. He is a fisherman and his past wives and children has all passed away.

Satsu: Satsu is Chiyo's older sister. She is just like her father, but more negletic towards Chiyo. Chiyo doesn't think Satsu is very mature compared to her age.

Mr. Tanaka: Rich, intelligent and nice, Chiyo thinks Mr. Tanaka is the best person around. He is exceptionally kind to Chiyo because he knows about Chiyo's family problems. Also, he was adopted and became rich from that, so he knows the paiin of being poor and lonely.

Entry3
Symbols
So far, I think Chiyo's house, the tipsy house, is a significant symbol because Chiyo is always lonely and is very close to falling or slipping whenever she collides with problems. When a strong winde blows, Chiyo is not very strong to with hold the blow. I think her personality will grow stronger throughout the book, but for now, when she is young, she seems very weak and unsteady.

Another symbol that I thought was interesting was Mr. Tanaka. Although he is a character, I think he is like a motivator for Chiyo. She always tried to look nice and perfect in front of him because she thought he was very gentleman-like. I think Mr. Tanaka is like a savor and will save Chiyo from her hopeless childhood and set a brighter path for her.

180degrees south

"Books are a great start, but there is no substitute for just going there."

1. Jeff and his few friends were interested in stepping the route that Jeff's heros has once stepped and in order to do so, he read many books about it and researched it. However, as he travels the same route, he realizes many things that were simply unable to be explained and read in books. It was a good choice for him to just dive into the challenge and see how far he ends up; even if that means failure. Although they were not successful in climbing the whole mountain, they were able to gain many knowledge and experience through the journey.

2. For me, I have a long way ahead of me. Some people say it's just the beginning for me since now I am truly an adult and is about to head off to college. I read about many colleges that I want to attend and I did so much research on them before I applied. However, I feel like it won't be the same; actually attending the school or just reading about the schools. I think there really is no substitute for just going out there and experience it.

Independent Reading Book title/author

Title: Memoirs of a Geisha

Author: Arthur Golden