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.