Author: Sergio

IRJE #6 “What I am today at the age of twelve”

In the book “The kite runner” by Khaled Hosseini, the very first words to me are very meaningful because they set the tone for the book and give you a perspective you can use to read the book with a certain mood.

I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out.
Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years. (p. 1)

This part talks about a crucial moment from when the narrator was twelve, showing how past events shape who we are. It says that you can’t really forget the past because it always comes back. The narrator also says that he has been thinking about that alley for twenty-six years, showing how memories can keep haunting us.

IRJE #5 “but how do I know?”

This quote is from the book “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield, is annoyed by people, especially a psychoanalyst, who keep asking him if he’s going to try hard in school when he goes back next September.

A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I’m going to apply myself when I go back to school next September. It’s such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean how do you know what you’re going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don’t. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it’s a stupid question. (p. 234)

Holden thinks the question is dumb because he believes you can’t really know what you’re going to do until you actually do it. He says it’s a stupid question because life is unpredictable, and people can’t predict their own actions. Holden doesn’t like being pressured about his future plans, and he thinks that questions like these oversimplify the complexities of life and personal choices.

PW #5 “Trees”

When I was a kid, there was this cool bunch of trees near my house. They were like my secret hideout, a place where I could go with my friends to hang out. Me and my friends used to climb the trees and when on top of the trees would just start talking, feeling as comfortable as ever, we would just talk..

Those trees knew all my childhood secrets. We’d talk about everything with the trees beside us, as if their leaves held some kind of tranquility. In the summer, the shade they threw down was a lifesaver, shielding us from the blazing sun. And when fall came, it was like our own little party with leaves raining down, and us playing with the leaves below that had fell.

I’ve moved out of that neighborhood, but those trees are in my memories. I remember when I fell from one and scraped half of my arm from the elbow to my wrist. Now, I sometimes think about the times when I would have fun with just trees and leaves.

IRJE #4 “the CATCHER in the RYE”

In this quote from “The Catcher in the Rye,” Holden Caulfield expresses a fantasy where he stands on the edge of a cliff overlooking a field of rye. He imagines himself as the “catcher in the rye,” with the responsibility of preventing children playing in the field from falling off the metaphorical cliff that represents the loss of innocence associated with growing up. This reflects Holden’s desire to protect the purity of childhood in a world he sees as phony and corrupt, showcasing his yearning for a simpler and more authentic existence for children.

“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around—nobody big, I mean—except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going, I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”

In this quote J.D. Stalinger actually mentions the name of the book in a conversation Holden had.

PW #4 “Poker”

Poker has strategic and dynamic gameplay, it has become a pastime for me. Despite my age, I find the game’s complexity and strategic depth to be both intellectually stimulating and socially engaging.

Beyond the initial charm of the cards, there’s a fascinating use of psychology and tactics that keeps me hooked. Understanding opponents, bluffing, and making calculated decisions add layers of excitement to every hand. I believe poker is a mental chess match that requires cleverness and adaptability.

While I am aware of the importance of the responsibility you need to play, I believe that poker, when approached with a thoughtful mindset, serves as an approach for skill development and strategic thinking. The strategic choices and decision-making processes made in the game contribute to my personal growth and mental curiosity.

PW #3 “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”

Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and charismatic figure, serves as a symbol of resilience and self-belief. Beyond his skills in the boxing ring, Ali’s life is a testament to the power of conviction and the courage to stand up for one’s principles. His famous words, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, not only encapsulate his boxing style but also reflect a philosophy of grace and strength in the face of challenges. Ali’s journey from adversity to triumph inspires us to embrace our uniqueness, fight for what we believe in, and, above all, to have the unwavering confidence to conquer life’s ring with resilience and a sense of purpose.

IRJE #3 “The most terrific liar”

This quote reflects Holden’s struggle with saying the truth. His admission of being a “terrific liar” highlights his desire for genuineness and his coping mechanism to navigate a society he finds phony.

“I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It’s awful. If I’m on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera. It’s terrible.”

Holden’s tendency to lie serves him as a sort of defense mechanism, he uses it many times throughout the book and is very good at doing so.

PR #2 “All quiet on the western front”

“All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque is a book that left an impact on me. It’s a powerful exploration of the horrors of World War I, as seen through the eyes of a young German soldier, Paul Bäumer. It really moved me how this book portrays the horrors of war and everything that happened.
It shows how the friendships among soldiers is one of the few things that can keep them going in the face of overwhelming fear, suffering, and loss. It describes the mental and emotional toll that the constant exposure to death and violence takes on these young men.

Paul Bäumer’s journey from an eager, idealistic young man to a cold, disillusioned soldier is very sad. We witness his transformation as he comes face to face with war, the absurdity of authority figures, and the difference from a civilian world that cannot comprehend the horrors he has experienced.
“All Quiet on the Western Front” serves as a reminder of the impact of war on the lives of individuals and on society as a whole. It’s a testament to the people and the resilience of those who endure hardships. It also compels us to reflect on the consequences of our choices and the responsibility of nations to avoid war.

In summary, this book left me deeply moved. It is a haunting and timeless work that offers a window into the experiences of those who have lived through the horrors of war. “All Quiet on the Western Front” is a reminder of the human cost of conflict and a plea for peace and understanding in a world that continues to be controlled by war.

IRJE #2 “Chief”

Moments ago, Holden had called Mauricio to tell him that he needed a girl and asked about the costs, after having a dispute about the costs with the girl, the following ensued.

“Let’s have it, chief” He came right up to where I was standing. That’s all he could say. “Let’s have it, chief.” He was a real moron.
“No.”
“Chief, you’re gonna force me inna roughin’ ya up a little bit. I don’t wanna do it, but that’s the way it looks,” he said. “You owe us five bucks.”
“I don’t owe you five bucks,” I said. “If you rough me up, I’ll yell like hell. I’ll wake up everybody in the hotel.
The police and all.? My voice was shaking like a bastard.

After that Sunny went and grabbed Holden’s wallet and took the 5 dollars herself, making Holden get mad and started calling them crooks, making Mauricio mad and eventually leading to Mauricio hitting Holden in the stomach and him and Sunny walking out the door.

PW#2 The Independence Day

The Independence Day in Mexico is a very important celebration. It is celebrated on September 16th to commemorate the beginning of the fight for Mexico’s independence. During this day, there are parades, the Mexican flag is waved, people dress up with the cultural clothes and cultural events take place throughout the country. It is also a tradition for the President of Mexico to give the famous “Grito de Independencia” from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City.

I like to celebrate it by having a big dinner with my family and putting “Mexican” clothes on, like a red, white and green outfit or even the Mexican soccer jersey.

IRJE#1 Not one damn thing.

In the book “the CATCHER in the RYE” by J.D. Stalinger, Stradlater, a side character had asked Holden, the main character, to do his work for him, because he had gone on a date with a girl.

All of a sudden, he said, “For Chrissake, Holden. This is about a goddam baseball glove.”
“So what?” I said. Cold as hell.
“Wuddaya mean so what? I told ya it had to be about a goddam room or a house or something.”
“You said it had to be descriptive. What the hell’s the difference if it’s about a baseball glove?”
“God damn it.” He was sore as hell. He was really furi-
ous.
“You always do everything backasswards.” He looked at me. “No wonder you’re flunking the hell out of here,” he said. “You don’t do one damn thing the way you’re supposed to. I mean it. Not one damn thing.” (p. 46-47)

Stradlater was angry because Holden had done his work wrong and was saying that he never does anything right. Holden later said to stradlater that he should give the essay to him, just for him to tear it up and throw it in the trash, making them both get mad at each other.

They Shall Not Grow Old PR

My feelings for the characters and all the people involved in the film is mostly sympathetic, because of the suffering shown to us. They had to eat barely edible food if any, were always with a chance of getting hit or bombed and they hardly ever slept.

The setting was very different to the world we live in today, in their world they had to “be a man” at a very young age, for example; adolescents 16 years or older were signing up in the military and fighting the war, even though they were not forced to join the military until they were 19 years old, some even lied about their age to attend the war and fight for their country. The women had to stay at home and look after the children or if they did join the military they were usually assigned positions of little to no risk, like making the food, being an infirmary, take care of the cleaning, etc. Now women are doing the same jobs than men.

The imagery on the film was very interesting but very shocking to watch, as it depicted the horrors of the war and the casualties, it also showed how they lived their lives and what they did for fun in the war. I think the imagery was necessary to be able to be able to further explain what was happening and how it looked.

The narrator’s tone was neutral most of the time, but the guests always had some sort of nostalgic tone in their voice. I was able to pick that up by the expressions and words they used such as “There were bad times, but nobody regretted it” and “Some even enjoyed it”.

When the war ended it was a totally different welcome to what the soldiers imagined, when they came back nobody was interested in what happened and some were even unfazed by the events. Shop or factory owners did not want to employ veterans because of their traumas or lost limbs, some even excluded the war veterans because they thought they were freaks and insane.