Blog 13: Musical: The Best Spelling Bee

     “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a  a long one-act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman.This show was open in the past several days in our Black Box Theater. I feel honored to be part of the show. Although I'm in the pit band and could not be an audience to see the show, I know this show very well from our daily practice. 

      This show starts from the entrance of Rona Lisa Peretti who was the champion in the third Spelling Bee. Then, one by one, each speller is called up to the microphone. The main spellers are Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Leaf Coneybear, Olive and William Barfee. Some, of them have special techniques to spell words. Ms. Peretti explains William’s unusual technique of spelling each word with his foot on the ground before spelling it aloud. After many turns of spelling, William Barfee is the final winner of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 

     In this show, my favorite characters are Marci and Leaf Coneybear. I like Marci is because she is a really good speller. She knows all the words by heart and speak it out with clear voice and confidence. If she wants, I think she probably will win the Spelling Bee. Also, I like her voice very much. When she sings, I can feel her emotion and her thought. It's quite amazing when she sings "I speak six languages". For Leaf Coneybear, I think he has very special personality. He is not the winner of his district. His is actually the third, however, he get a chance to attend this Spelling Bee. Everyone thinks he is dumb and stupid, but he is actually not. He didn't know any of these words that the judge and announcer give him, but he made it farther than everyone else expected him to be.  In the show, he brings a lot of fun to the audience and makes them laugh so hard. 

     This is my first musical experience, and I think it really leaves me a good memory. Before the performance, I have to say that we really practice a lot. Everyone is working so hard to make this show better. Few weeks ago, our pit band didn't even practice all the songs yet and all the people were acting didn't know all the lines. It was a mess. However, daily practice really makes us improve a lot. Although I complained about the everyday practice which made me feel a bit insipid, I really enjoy spending time with all the people in our Drama team. These four days performance told me it's worthy to do this. All of our hardworking and the time to practice get feedback and repayment. Everyone likes the show. Everyone told me the show was amazing and they wanted to see it again. 

      I really think our Drama team did a fantastic job. I feel proud and glorious to be part of the show. Not only I had fun in the show, but also I learn things that will benefit my whole life and as well as friendship. Thanks to all the members in the musical for producing such a great show to the audience. 

     

Books

1. The Road:The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. 

2. We were liars：We Were Liars is the story of those annual reunions; in particular what happened during a summer that protagonist Cadence is unable to remember. 

3. All the light we cannot see: it is about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

4. If I stay : it tells the story of a seventeen year-old girl,  Mia, who has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck.

5. My year with Eleanor : My Year with Eleanor, Noelle Hancock’s hilarious tale of her decision to heed the advice of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and do one thing a day that scares her in the year before her 30th birthday. 

Spelling Bee Summary

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a  a long one-act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman. It started from the entrance of Rona Lisa Peretti, the moderator of the bee, which quickly thrown back to her own Putnam County Spelling Bee experience, where she won with the word “syzygy.” The students begin to enter and, along with the four spellers who have been selected from the show’s audience, are welcomed by Ms. Peretti (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”). Ms. Peretti pulls Olive Ostrovsky aside and tells her that she still owes the $25 fee for the bee. Olive reveals that she’s come alone on a bus, so there’s no parent there who can pay. Ms. Peretti decides to let the fee slide. She introduces the spellers to Vice Principal Douglas Panch. Next to be introduced is the Official Comfort Counselor, Michelle Mahoney, an intimidating-looking convicted criminal who is serving his community service at the bee. Michelle leads the spellers in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Panch then explains the bee rules.One by one, each speller is called up to the microphone: Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Leaf Coneybear, Olive, then William Barfee. Ms. Peretti explains William’s unusual technique of spelling each word with his foot on the ground before spelling it aloud. After many times of spelling words, the winner finally came out: William Barfee. Olive got the second prize and 25$ and she used it for her entrance fee. 

Revise poems

To Our Dining Hall

Things could be better

Fresh, various fruits and meals

Students will like more

Musical is life

"I am not that smart

My parents keep telling me..."

Musical is life! 

Kaiku poems

Shoelaces untied
become a tripping hazard.
Hope she falls for me.

Laughing among friends -
palate cleansing for the soul.
A welcome relief.

It is easier
To accept criticism
When it's not spoken.

Gathering of Pearls: Make Your Own Pear Necklace

     Gathering of Pearls is a fictional novel which was written by a Korean born author named Sook Nyul Choi. This book narrates the stories of a Korean girl, Sookan, who comes to America and starts a new life in a foreign country. On the cover, Sookan sits on the floor and gathers pearls all over which come from a broken pearl necklace. Around the image, flowers like plum blossoms grow. The image on the cover of Sookan gathering pearls represents her difficulties in life, inner conflict, and her guilt over the death of mother; however, Sookan gathers those pearls from her life and turns them into energy to fight for a better life. 

     Sookan met a lot of hardships when she first came to America. There were many differences between Korean culture and American culture. Sookan's culture was traditional and conservative, but American culture was open and free. For example, Sookan was surprised when she saw her American friends who were in the same grade could talk to seniors relaxingly. They never used any honorific terms or words to talk with elders. Many obstacles were also on Sookan's academic path. Sookan wanted to make her family proud, so she decided to choose very hard courses. However, her high demand on herself led to her extremely busy schedule. Keeping working so hard everyday made her felt immensely tired. She knew she could not stay in this kind of situation anymore, but she still continued to do it because of her stubborn characteristics. Nevertheless, Sookan gradually adjusted with help from her friends and teachers, and she overcame those difficulties in her life. From those difficulties, Sookan harvested friendship and approval from her teachers for her hard work. 

     While Sookan was overcoming difficulties in America, she also experienced many inner conflicts. Her main inner conflicts were mostly about her sister's order. She got letters from her sister about writing journals and sending them back to Korea. Her sister wanted Sookan to share all of her thoughts so she and Sookan would not grow apart. Her sister also wanted Sookan to go back to Korean to be a nun and continue her work. Sookan wanted to follow her sister's order and satisfy her; however, Sookan was a bit mad at her sister for always demanding her and not understanding her. Nonetheless, Sookan felt sorry for her anger because she should respect her sister and do what she wanted her to do. Sookan didn't know what should she do: to abide her sister or go on her own way. A lot of confusion and conflicts were going on inside of Sookan during that period of time. However, Sookan inspired by her firiends' and mother's words, which she finally chose to follow her heart and decided her future goals. Those inner conflicts helped her be conscious of what she truely wanted and became brave to walk on her own path. 

     Sookan's guilt toward her mother's death influenced her a lot from inside. When Father Lee came to her school in America and told her that her mother was already in Heaven, Sookan could not believe her ear. She could believe that her beloved and kind mother has left her forever. Sookan didn't even get a chance to see her mother for the last time. She blamed herself that she shouldn't come to America in such a hurry. She could wait for a few months and accompany her mother. When she got her mother's letter, Sookan knew that even at her mother's last minute, her mother was still worried about her and wanted to not interrupt her study. In her mother's letter, her mother wanted her to continue her own life in America and not be sad because of her death. Sookan knew that her mother wanted to turn her sorrow and pain into pearls which symbolized energy to live in a better life. Although mother's death left her a life long guilt, Sookan understood that she won't sink in the pain and sadness, and she would gather those sorrow to expand her life width and walk steadily to her future. 

     Sookan picked up those pearls in her life which were composed by life difficulties, inner conflicts and self-accusation, and she restring it into understanding and wisdom in life. She didn't fear challenges and troubles, instead, she overcame and defeated those hardships and confusions. The voice inside of her told her that she would find herself a direction and insisted to walk on firmly without turning back. Those flowers around the image of Sookan on the cover symbolize Sookan's strong, brave and persistent personality. For Sookan, pain and sorrow are indispensable elements of her life, because she needed to readjust herself and keep running on the right track. A brighter and better future is waiting for Sookan with full of treasures like pearls. 

Blog 12: Epilogue for Gathering of Pearls

     After five years studying in America, Sookan already have her goals for her future life. Everything has changed compares to what her life is when she first arrived at America. She already overcome the sorrow of losing mother, although she still feel guilty and regretful when she thinks about it right now. After her mother's death, she already decide firmly that she will stay in America for her rest of life, because there is no point that she goes back to Korea if her mother is not there anymore. Sookan already fits perfectly into American life style. She already understands American culture and feels really comfortable live with it. Also, she wants to select the road that she likes for her future instead of her sister's choice. Sookan has her own goals for her future life. She sometimes missed her brothers and sisters, too. She writes some letters to her sister and elder brothers, but she never gets any feedbacks. She only gets letters from her younger brother. He told her what had happened recently, not to worry about the family and live well in America. Although Sookan is upset about not getting any letters from her sister and elder brother, she thinks about her Korean culture and her sister's anger and acknowledging it. 

     During the summer vacation after she graduated from college, Sookan and Ellen went to Greece with Marci. They travelled together and choose this travelling as their graduation trip. On their way, Sookan and Ellen listen to Ellen's introducing of all the beatiful sight and stories behind them. They talked a lot of things and they really had a great time. 

     After this trip to Greece, they separate for a time to find job. Marci continue her dream of being a classical professor. Ellen and Kyle get married and she finds a job which plans wedding for other people. Sookan, surprisingly, she doesn't choose to be a nun in Korea. Unexpectly, she finds a job at an elementary school. She loves Mr. Bennett's children very much, so she decides to be a teacher at Mr. Bennett's children's elementary school. In this way, she can take care of them and also spend time with them. Sarah and Jimmy are so happy when they hear this news. They also love to be with Sookan. 

     All Sookan's friends and teachers are happy for Sookan finding a job at elementary school. Sookan invites Sister Reed, Marci, Ellen and Mr. Bennett's family to her renting apartment to have dinner. She cooks Korean food for them and they all like it very much. 

     Speaking of Tom, Sookan finally makes up her mind that she decide to date with Tom. They are seen as the cutest couple by Ellen and Marci. Tom treats Sookan really well and everyone can see that how much he loves Sookan. 

      For now, everything goes on very well in Sookan's life. She enjoys her life in America and never regrets that she makes this decision to stay. A bright, colorful future is waiting for Sookan to embrace her with full of surprise. 

Chapter 13-18 study guide

Chapter 13:

1. Marci doesn't have a good relationship with her parents. She often argues with her parents and doesn't want to talk with them. 

2. Marci suggests Sookan to tell her sister the truth and live in her own life. She thinks Sookan should have to break free of her sister. 

3. I think Sookan will think about Marci's suggest but she won't follow it, because Sookan is that kind of girl who always think about her whole family instead of just caring her own life. 

Chapter 14:

1. Sister Reed gives Sookan a pearl necklace, because this is given by Sister Reed's aunt and her aunt asked her to make a special present when she meets a truly extraordinary young women. She thinks Sookan is the one. 

2. Ellen decides to accept Kyle's proposal and she already decides that if her parents object their marriage, she will elope with Kyle. 

3. Her parents feel shocked and objects her quick marriage. 

4. I totally agree with Sookan's position. Because marriage is very important in Ellen's life. She needs to take it seriously. Sookan knows how important this is to Ellen's whole life. So as a friend, she will choose to do the best and right thing for Ellen. In this case, stand at her parents' view will be the best for Ellen. 

Chapter 15:

1. The reason why Sookan has conflicting emotion is because she wants to use the money she collected to buy her mother and her family each person a gift. However, when she decides to surprise Ellen and Sister Reed by attending the party, she sees a beautiful dress and it fits her very well. She bought it and she doesn't have any money left to buy her family gifts. That makes her happy but guilty. She feels happy because she finally can attend the party and wear the perl necklace to surprise Ellen and Sister Reed. She feels guilty be cases she didn't buy her mother anything. She feels its wrong. 

2. I think I would buy my family gifts first. Because there are many chances that she can go to the party and surprise both Ellen and Sister Reed. But I think it's better to buy gifts and send them back home to make up for the Christmas presents. So in this case, you can at least let your family know that you are still thinking of them and love them as always. 

Chapter 16:

1. She has fit into the American culture and life as she wished in this beginning of the year. She also accomplished her goal in studying. She has make through her fist year in college. She has good friends and have good relationship with teachers. Everyone likes her. 

2. Sookan has changed a lot compares to the time when she first arrive in America. She knew American culture better and feels more comfortable with her American life. Right now she prefer more about American style of treating people and things. She becomes more independent. She not anymore thinks it's her obligation to always follow her sister's order. She has her own thought right now. 

Chapter 17:

1. He told Sookan that her mother died at the beginning of May. 

2. Sookan is shocked, heart brokenand sobbed. She can't believe her mother is already in heaven. 

Chapter 18:

1. When Sookan looks back to her mother's death, she feels awful because she can't accompany her mom at her last moment. She even didn't get to see her mother. She regrets that she shouldn't leave this early to America and she should stay at home and be with her mother longer. Then she reads her mother's last letter again, she finally decided to turn her pain into energy. She gets why her mother tells her to remember the story of the pearl. She will live a good life and try to be as best as she can to make her mother proud. 

2. I think Sookan should be strong and walk on. Her mother's death is already a fact, she can't do anything about it. The only thing she can do is to be strong and live a best life as she can to make her mother proud of her. She should turn those pain into the support for her hardworking and new life in America.