Recently, we are reading a fiction called "Gathering of Pearls", which was written by a Korean American writer Sook Nyul Choi. We have not finished this book yet, but I already attracted by its plots. This book is mainly talking about a Korean girl whose name is Sookan came to America because of scholarship and studied in a catholic college. Her life and internal sentiment experienced a huge challenge. At the beginning, she was afraid of fitting in the American life, failing classes and disappointing her family. However, she met good friends and teachers who helped her overcome those difficulties she met in her life and conducted her to enjoy her American life and understand American culture.
I'm really attracted by this book because I can feel the connection between Sookan's new life and my personal expererences. Recall back to a year ago when I first came to America for studying. It was my first time to travel alone for this far and to a totally trange country. I had the same concern when I was on the plane to America. I was afraid of being isolated and unable to communicate with my American classmates because of unskilled English speaking. However, when I started my highschool life, I felt that it wasn't as difficult as I thought it was. Although I made a lot of grammar mistakes when I talked with my new friends, they still could get what I meant. When I met difficulties in studying, I went to ask teachers and they are always willing to help me. My English quickly got improved. I was invited to a friend's house for Halloween. They told me what Halloween was and what they usually did. They told me to wear something funny or scary so we could go to "trick or treat" at night together. That was my first Halloween andirons was so fun that I would never forget it.
Also, one thing that interested me a lot is her internal sentiment. At that time, there's no such a thing called Wechat which we use a lot nowadays for texting and chatting. The only thing Sookan could use was writing letters to her family. She could not go back to Korea until she finished her studying in Korea because the ticket for flying was very expensive. This meant that she could not see her family for four years. She missed her family a lot but she had to continue her life in America. She felt sorry for bot helping her mother around but her personality of loving challenges and risks made she can not stop studying in America. One thing that was noticeable was the relationship between Sookan and her sister. Her sister wanted Sookan to follow her order and help her work of being a nun. Sookan wanted to obey her at first. But after her sister's angry letter Sookan felt ambivalent. She was angry at her sister for not understanding her situation but then she felt sorry for her anger. She didn't know what was the right thing to do: obey her sister or being herself.
I think, so far, "Gathering of Perls" is a good book to read. It perfectly connected to our international students' experiences and created resonance. Although I have not finished this book yet, I recommended it to all the international students here in our school. 
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