Comments for Oh The Humanities... http://romary.edublogs.org Learning in Grade 8 Humanities at the International School Bangkok Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:31:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on WFR by Pong http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-544 Pong Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:53:28 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-544 In the book Tengo changed overtime and in many ways. For example, he was willing to obey the oubass and not question what he wanted him to do. Tengo was really stressed and frustrated because he didn’t understand some things. Tengo’s changing point was when it was the oubass’s birthday. Sissy’s cousin talks to Ezekiel like he is a servant and Tengo snaps which leads him to yell at Sissy’s cousin. (page 64). He wondered why black people were mistreated like that. At that point Tengo was distant and wanted to go to school. The change of a characters perception and attitude can cause conflict, for instance, Tengo wanted to join the A.N.C. He also wanted to gain a matriculation. In the book Tengo changed overtime and in many ways. For example, he was willing to obey the oubass and not question what he wanted him to do. Tengo was really stressed and frustrated because he didn’t understand some things. Tengo’s changing point was when it was the oubass’s birthday. Sissy’s cousin talks to Ezekiel like he is a servant and Tengo snaps which leads him to yell at Sissy’s cousin. (page 64). He wondered why black people were mistreated like that. At that point Tengo was distant and wanted to go to school. The change of a characters perception and attitude can cause conflict, for instance, Tengo wanted to join the A.N.C. He also wanted to gain a matriculation.

]]> Comment on WFR by Pong http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-542 Pong Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:28:41 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-542 The end of the story showed that Tengo was really stressed and frustrated by the fact that there had been no school for over a year. This caused Tengo to want to join the ANC. He wanted to do this because he wanted to stand up in what he believed in. He wanted black and white people to be held at the same status (page 133). On that page it talked about how Tengo and Joesph wanted the black people to be treated better. This is also shown on page 200 where Tengo was yelling at Frikkie about what he wanted. I feel sorry for Tengo, since he and his family have been mistreated for a long time. Also that he has been put under so much pressure by lots of people because they wanted him to join the ANC. All Tengo wanted to do was graduate. I think that this would end badly for Tengo because he was fighting the Boers. The end of the story showed that Tengo was really stressed and frustrated by the fact that there had been no school for over a year. This caused Tengo to want to join the ANC. He wanted to do this because he wanted to stand up in what he believed in. He wanted black and white people to be held at the same status (page 133). On that page it talked about how Tengo and Joesph wanted the black people to be treated better. This is also shown on page 200 where Tengo was yelling at Frikkie about what he wanted. I feel sorry for Tengo, since he and his family have been mistreated for a long time. Also that he has been put under so much pressure by lots of people because they wanted him to join the ANC. All Tengo wanted to do was graduate. I think that this would end badly for Tengo because he was fighting the Boers.

]]> Comment on WFR by Ben Sineee http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-541 Ben Sineee Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:35:21 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-541 I think the author wrote this book because she wanted the readers to understand the bond of friendship. This bond shows that it can be strong and help threw the hardest of struggles. Frikkie is a white African boy. Tengo on the other hand is a black African boy. At this time, apartheid was strong and for many blacks they hated the whites. But Tengo and Frikkie were the very close friends. They loved playing sports and racing each other all over the farm. Every time there was a school holiday Frikkie would come down the farm. Not just because he wanted to be a farmer but he liked to play with Tengo. But soon it fell apart when Tengo wanted to go to school and learn. Then as years passed Tengo became very intelligent student. Frikkie joined the Army and became a very worthy soldier. They soon met up when Tengo was in a protest and hit Frikkie who was a soldier in the head with a metal bar. I think the author wrote this book because she wanted the readers to understand the bond of friendship. This bond shows that it can be strong and help threw the hardest of struggles. Frikkie is a white African boy. Tengo on the other hand is a black African boy. At this time, apartheid was strong and for many blacks they hated the whites. But Tengo and Frikkie were the very close friends. They loved playing sports and racing each other all over the farm. Every time there was a school holiday Frikkie would come down the farm. Not just because he wanted to be a farmer but he liked to play with Tengo. But soon it fell apart when Tengo wanted to go to school and learn. Then as years passed Tengo became very intelligent student. Frikkie joined the Army and became a very worthy soldier. They soon met up when Tengo was in a protest and hit Frikkie who was a soldier in the head with a metal bar.

]]> Comment on WFR by WINNIE http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-540 WINNIE Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:29:49 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-540 THE END. When the story comes to the ending, Tengo is still depressed. The fact that he had no chance to sit or his matriculation exams, hunts him every minute, when the student are still boycotting reverend Gilbert tries to encourage him. He accepts the help from the reverend, helping him study. Tengo has really gone through a lot. Elijah his friend and Alice were currently arrested because of boycotting classes. Joseph comes to visit from where he works. He then tells him what he really does and gives him an option of going with him. Tengo chooses to go over seas to get education. The A.N.C offers education at their expense. When they are both on their ways, Tengo bumps into an old friend Frikkie. For the first time we see Frikkie crying asking what he ever did to Tengo to hate him so much? By this you can see that the two boys are no longer friends. Their friendship ended when both of them ended up on different sides. THE END.
When the story comes to the ending, Tengo is still depressed. The fact that he had no chance to sit or his matriculation exams, hunts him every minute, when the student are still boycotting reverend Gilbert tries to encourage him. He accepts the help from the reverend, helping him study. Tengo has really gone through a lot. Elijah his friend and Alice were currently arrested because of boycotting classes. Joseph comes to visit from where he works. He then tells him what he really does and gives him an option of going with him. Tengo chooses to go over seas to get education. The A.N.C offers education at their expense. When they are both on their ways, Tengo bumps into an old friend Frikkie. For the first time we see Frikkie crying asking what he ever did to Tengo to hate him so much? By this you can see that the two boys are no longer friends. Their friendship ended when both of them ended up on different sides.

]]> Comment on WFR by anonymous>. http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-539 anonymous>. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:35:00 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-539 Is there a main point or theme in the story? In these two chapters, the theme of the story is revealed about how the whites and the blacks both thought that only their race is better than the other. During the event at the shed when Tengo was pointing a gun at Frikkie, Frikkie tried to explain to Tengo that apartheid and racism was not his fault. Frikkie told Tengo that he was told to follow what the orders are. At first Tengo thought that Frikkie could do much better like the two sons of the Miller’s family or some whites who joined the blacks. However, Tengo realizes that both of them did not think in each other’s point of view. Frikkie was only brainwashed by the white society, so he was like a victim, too. All the problems were caused because of pride in their own race. Both races should have tried to understand each other, which could have brought peace. Instead they were blind by their own pride of their race and were angry against each other for not accepting who is the actual better race. The conversation in the last chapter explains that both Tengo and Frikkie were made to hate each other by the society. Tengo realized this, so he lets Frikkie go. I also learned how much damage pride can do to special relationships. It made me think about whether I ever showed pride in my own race and put down other people. I will try to be more respectful and understanding. Is there a main point or theme in the story?

In these two chapters, the theme of the story is revealed about how the whites and the blacks both thought that only their race is better than the other. During the event at the shed when Tengo was pointing a gun at Frikkie, Frikkie tried to explain to Tengo that apartheid and racism was not his fault. Frikkie told Tengo that he was told to follow what the orders are. At first Tengo thought that Frikkie could do much better like the two sons of the Miller’s family or some whites who joined the blacks. However, Tengo realizes that both of them did not think in each other’s point of view. Frikkie was only brainwashed by the white society, so he was like a victim, too. All the problems were caused because of pride in their own race. Both races should have tried to understand each other, which could have brought peace. Instead they were blind by their own pride of their race and were angry against each other for not accepting who is the actual better race. The conversation in the last chapter explains that both Tengo and Frikkie were made to hate each other by the society. Tengo realized this, so he lets Frikkie go. I also learned how much damage pride can do to special relationships. It made me think about whether I ever showed pride in my own race and put down other people. I will try to be more respectful and understanding.

]]> Comment on WFR by Max http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-538 Max Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:47:41 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-538 I think that the theme of Waiting for the Rain is that change like rain takes time and that when you call upon change it is nowhere to be found. Often in the story change is something that is called upon by mostly Tengo and it doesn’t come. For example Tengo talked through out the beginning chapters about going away to study in Johannesburg and it never happens until something sidetracks him, the fight between the little red-head and Eziqueal once his mind was concentrated on something else his mom told him he could go and stay with there cousins in Johannesburg to study. I think that the theme of Waiting for the Rain is that change like rain takes time and that when you call upon change it is nowhere to be found. Often in the story change is something that is called upon by mostly Tengo and it doesn’t come. For example Tengo talked through out the beginning chapters about going away to study in Johannesburg and it never happens until something sidetracks him, the fight between the little red-head and Eziqueal once his mind was concentrated on something else his mom told him he could go and stay with there cousins in Johannesburg to study.

]]> Comment on WFR by Sarah C http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-537 Sarah C Sun, 23 Mar 2008 06:35:22 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-537 In the beginning of the book Tengo was intelligent, creative, gentle, kind, artistic, brave, clever, caring and curious. To me in the beginning of the book it seemed as if he was still a young boy and doesn't really understand what's happening in the outside world. When i kept reading the book, he seems to be getting more and more questions in his mind. He seems depressed, gloomy, worried and he feels like his dreams were shattered. He's giving up education to join the ANC (groups of people who go against the white). They both meet again, in Tengo's township. They didn't knew each other then. Frikkie could have shot Tengo down, and Tengo could have killed Frikkie, but now they know that the kaffir was Tengo and the soldier was Frikkie. Tengo and Frikkie encounter each other in the most unlikely place. A dark shed where they see each other after all these years as enemies(Frikkie as soldier and Tengo as running away). Tengo's anger comes forward, his anger shocked himself. Frikkie starts apologizing. Tengo was still mad, but he was letting it go. Frikkie started talking about the old days, when he tought Tengo how to swim and how much joy they had. Tengo said "the farm will never be yours". "The farm belongs to the people who worked on it." Tengo was someone new. In the inside he still might be the same Tengo the smart one whose family comes first, but now he was someone who cares about his community. Tengo let Frikkie go and promise that Frikkie won't say anything to other soldier. Not because he's a white soldier but because of their friendship. In the beginning of the book Tengo was intelligent, creative, gentle, kind, artistic, brave, clever, caring and curious. To me in the beginning of the book it seemed as if he was still a young boy and doesn’t really understand what’s happening in the outside world. When i kept reading the book, he seems to be getting more and more questions in his mind. He seems depressed, gloomy, worried and he feels like his dreams were shattered. He’s giving up education to join the ANC (groups of people who go against the white). They both meet again, in Tengo’s township. They didn’t knew each other then. Frikkie could have shot Tengo down, and Tengo could have killed Frikkie, but now they know that the kaffir was Tengo and the soldier was Frikkie. Tengo and Frikkie encounter each other in the most unlikely place. A dark shed where they see each other after all these years as enemies(Frikkie as soldier and Tengo as running away). Tengo’s anger comes forward, his anger shocked himself. Frikkie starts apologizing. Tengo was still mad, but he was letting it go. Frikkie started talking about the old days, when he tought Tengo how to swim and how much joy they had.
Tengo said “the farm will never be yours”. “The farm belongs to the people who worked on it.”
Tengo was someone new. In the inside he still might be the same Tengo the smart one whose family comes first, but now he was someone who cares about his community. Tengo let Frikkie go and promise that Frikkie won’t say anything to other soldier. Not because he’s a white soldier but because of their friendship.

]]> Comment on WFR by Rhian Morgan http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-536 Rhian Morgan Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:30:39 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-536 It was obvious from the beginning of the book that the story takes place in the era of apartheid which was between the years 1948-1994. On page 12, it says that Nelson Mandela, one of the main leaders of the ANC, had been thrown in jail 20 years ago which would have been the year 1984 since he was put in jail in the year 1964. According to these dates and actual events that took place in history, I would assume that ‘Waiting for the Rain’ takes place in around the early 1980’s which is about the middle of the apartheid era. Clearly, the setting for ‘Waiting for the Rain’ is in South Africa because of the occasional Afrikaans word and the fact that it takes place during apartheid. The beginning of the story takes place in the countryside in South Africa, on a farm owned by a white family. The farm is abundant with pigs and chickens, and even a pond where Frikkie teaches Tengo to swim (page 23). The air at the farm is pure and the scenery is idyllic. On the farm there is a grand house where the white family lives, and an assortment of mud huts for the black workers. Further into the story, Tengo takes a train into the city of Johannesburg and lives with his relatives (page 84), from there, the setting changes for the remainder of the book. In the city there are massive buildings that appear to touch the sky, and enormous double decker buses throughout the city (page 89). Johannesburg is quite the contrast to the countryside, because there is pollution and noise everywhere. In the city there is also more racism and discrimination, as evidenced by the Bantu Education Act. The Bantu Education Act states that black people in South Africa have to pay for school and therefore they have a less privileged education than the white children. It was obvious from the beginning of the book that the story takes place in the era of apartheid which was between the years 1948-1994. On page 12, it says that Nelson Mandela, one of the main leaders of the ANC, had been thrown in jail 20 years ago which would have been the year 1984 since he was put in jail in the year 1964. According to these dates and actual events that took place in history, I would assume that ‘Waiting for the Rain’ takes place in around the early 1980’s which is about the middle of the apartheid era.
Clearly, the setting for ‘Waiting for the Rain’ is in South Africa because of the occasional Afrikaans word and the fact that it takes place during apartheid. The beginning of the story takes place in the countryside in South Africa, on a farm owned by a white family. The farm is abundant with pigs and chickens, and even a pond where Frikkie teaches Tengo to swim (page 23). The air at the farm is pure and the scenery is idyllic. On the farm there is a grand house where the white family lives, and an assortment of mud huts for the black workers. Further into the story, Tengo takes a train into the city of Johannesburg and lives with his relatives (page 84), from there, the setting changes for the remainder of the book. In the city there are massive buildings that appear to touch the sky, and enormous double decker buses throughout the city (page 89). Johannesburg is quite the contrast to the countryside, because there is pollution and noise everywhere. In the city there is also more racism and discrimination, as evidenced by the Bantu Education Act. The Bantu Education Act states that black people in South Africa have to pay for school and therefore they have a less privileged education than the white children.

]]> Comment on WFR by Emilio http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-535 Emilio Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:48:31 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-535 I think the title of the book is called Waiting for the Rain because the title of the book is like a symolism to Tengo's life. The drought can symbolize his beginnings when he's back at Doringkraal hanging around at oom koos farm with Frikkie but later on when the drought will be over othe rain will be pouring down any second later. From that said, it shows the times where it showed a lack of success happening. For example this evidence might support it and it is from page 153, "The enforced abscence from school reminded him of the long drought, when the workers who would have been laboring in the fields were forced to stand by idle..." "It was as though he was waiting for the rain." It's a lack of sucess for Tengo because he can't go to school and Tengo's attitude towards school is very enthusiastic. He enjoys every second of it. Its also called Waiting for the Rain because it does symbolize getting out of the threshold, or basically going through a process of a Hero's Journey. It's just like how a rain drops on crops. Crops have to go through a rough process too. "We would each have a leaef with a rain drop in it, and we would run round and round and round and round the house to aee who could keep going the longest without spilling the drop." So that shows that that is like a challenge. Waiting for the Rain is a named like that because it shows how you develop as a hero. Start off from the beginning, go out and start a new beginning, and pass through many challenges. I think the title of the book is called Waiting for the Rain because the title of the book is like a symolism to Tengo’s life. The drought can symbolize his beginnings when he’s back at Doringkraal hanging around at oom koos farm with Frikkie but later on when the drought will be over othe rain will be pouring down any second later. From that said, it shows the times where it showed a lack of success happening. For example this evidence might support it and it is from page 153, “The enforced abscence from school reminded him of the long drought, when the workers who would have been laboring in the fields were forced to stand by idle…” “It was as though he was waiting for the rain.” It’s a lack of sucess for Tengo because he can’t go to school and Tengo’s attitude towards school is very enthusiastic. He enjoys every second of it. Its also called Waiting for the Rain because it does symbolize getting out of the threshold, or basically going through a process of a Hero’s Journey. It’s just like how a rain drops on crops. Crops have to go through a rough process too. “We would each have a leaef with a rain drop in it, and we would run round and round and round and round the house to aee who could keep going the longest without spilling the drop.” So that shows that that is like a challenge. Waiting for the Rain is a named like that because it shows how you develop as a hero. Start off from the beginning, go out and start a new beginning, and pass through many challenges.

]]> Comment on WFR by Winner http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-533 Winner Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:11:44 +0000 http://romary.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/wfr/#comment-533 The setting for the book Waiting for the Rain has mainly three setting. The first setting is the farm where Tengo used to work. Many important events happen in Oom Koos’s farm such as the part when Tengo threaten to hit Sisse because she talked to the chief of Tengo tribe without manner. The two things that surprise me the most while this setting took place. First is the part when Frikkie cover for Tengo, he didn’t want Sisse to tell on Tengo so he gave sisse his best marble in his marble collection. The second things that surprise me are how racist white is to black the evidence that help support my thought would be pg 57. Madam said “You must never let a kaffir boy into your room again, you silly girl. D’you understand me! You have to be careful. This is like saying you can’t come into my house because you are black. The second setting is Johannesburg where Tengo went to get education and a boycott happen. This setting is when Tengo decide to accept the invitation of becoming a freedom fighter. Third setting is the ending of the story the township which Tengo live in. Frikkie and Tengo met again not as friend but as enemy because Frikkie is a soldier who is send to hunt down Tengo. The setting for the book Waiting for the Rain has mainly three setting. The first setting is the farm where Tengo used to work. Many important events happen in Oom Koos’s farm such as the part when Tengo threaten to hit Sisse because she talked to the chief of Tengo tribe without manner. The two things that surprise me the most while this setting took place. First is the part when Frikkie cover for Tengo, he didn’t want Sisse to tell on Tengo so he gave sisse his best marble in his marble collection. The second things that surprise me are how racist white is to black the evidence that help support my thought would be pg 57. Madam said “You must never let a kaffir boy into your room again, you silly girl. D’you understand me! You have to be careful. This is like saying you can’t come into my house because you are black. The second setting is Johannesburg where Tengo went to get education and a boycott happen. This setting is when Tengo decide to accept the invitation of becoming a freedom fighter. Third setting is the ending of the story the township which Tengo live in. Frikkie and Tengo met again not as friend but as enemy because Frikkie is a soldier who is send to hunt down Tengo.

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