Millie by Peter Hargatai

PETER HARGITAI’s Millie is a novel that touches the heart. When I first read it I wasnt too sure of the novel that laid ahead of me, but was pleasantly suprised.
In a story of the quintessential American dream, immigration, Hargitai tells the story of the coming-of-age of Art Nagy, a young Hungarian who arrives in America after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet-Communist occupation. Art struggles to make sense of life not only as an adolescent but also within his family who insist on transplanting many of their customs and much of their thinking from their country of origin, including less than attractive ideas about race and class. Art’s likes and dislikes and the friends he chooses bring the family to clash over values and beliefs, and culminate in tragedy when he falls in love with a girl from a different background. His deep love for Millie pits him against everything his family believes in…. And the final pages of the novel reveal acts of horror in his family’s past and explain much of what Art Nagy was up against.
Every page keeps the reader fascinated, unable to put it down until the very end. Millie was truly a book in of itself about pushing limits in every sense. Hargatai's strong sense of lack of thought for the common norm. kept me thinking. His raw and real approach to racism and sex is truly unmatched by any other author. It made me want to read again and again. Millie, was and is by far, one of Hargatai's best compilations.

No I didnt die...

Hello to those who possibly are still reading my blog.. sorry its been a while since I've written, life has had me pretty busy.

My post will be short.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Live it. Love it. All in Christ. Christ in all.

Peace&Love

All I Want For Christmas...

Holidays, especially Christmas have a tendency to bring out the most selfish aspects of our personalities. It no longer becomes giving, but rather what do I want or what do I need. In a season intended to be about others, how is it that it becomes the most trying time to put others before ourselves? This Christmas was a good evaluation of my progress in my spiritual life. It was a Christmas of little monteraily, but in abundance spiritually. This Christmas, it wasnt about what was wrapped under my tree, but rather the words I spoke the day of while cooking with my insane family. It was trying to be a light to my family and friends... It left me thinking though, what do I really want for Christmas? The "college student answer" says, money money money. The "spiritual answer" is for my parents and sister to come to know and accept Christ... but what about me? What do I reallly want for Christmas? Ever since I was a little girl all I ever wanted was a big kitchen and living room filled with tons of family and friends surrounded by foos and wine and endless laughter and yelling. You see, what most people see as normal or boring I see as perfection. I think Christmas has a tendency to make us appreciate the things we have and sadden us to the things we dont, and more often than not, the things we lack cannot be bought with money. This Christmas is my first by myself. My extended family is up north, and for the first year in a while... I am alone. No relationship... and for the first time, although I'm lonely I dont feel alone. I am content with Gods placement in my life. And this Christmas, thats all I wanted... contentment. Nothing more, nothing less. For the first time, I remembered the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

ENC 1101 Assignment: Self-Evaluation

My experience writing this argumentation paper was an interesting experience. For the first time in a while my writing skills were challanged. I found it difficult to argue a paper I didnt agree with. I have found in my past semester in 1101 that difficulty was a consistant factor. Our assignments constantly challanged to think outside the realm of comfortability. I truly enjoyed the socratic-teaching style of having each of the students sit in a circle to have an open forum for discussion. That push to think and write beyond the status quo is something I will continue to carry with me throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies.

Back to me...

As many of you know my english lit class has recently taken over my blogging topics. I have been caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, school, and the ins and outs of life as a college student living in (gasp) Miami. So heres a little update on my life thus far:

I am currently 3 weeks away from my second semester as a college freshman. This semester has flown by, and I can say that I have grown more in these past 4 months than in the past 4 years... allow me to explain.

Appreciation is a word used often in my vocab. recently. Throughout high school I was as i like to put it "stable". My finances, my relationship with God, and my Relationship with my boyfriend at the time. The most hurtful thing in my life was the "family life" situation. Well, in the past few months much has changed. I am no longer financially independent meaning for the first time in my life I have to RELY on PEOPLE IE(my mom and G-Ma) for money. Hard hard hard concept for me to swallow.. (im hard-headed, I know Im working on it...) My relatinship with God also took a bit of a nose dive over the summer. Some know things i went through, but basically I was ignoring God flat out. I could see him calling me to a higher standard and moving my life in different directions than i chose to go. And my boyfriend situation took a turn for the worst, but not only that, i listened to the people around me about relationships rather than looking to God for what he wanted for my life.... so after being a mess for a few months... with some hard work, and some deep God time, heres what i have so far...

1) I've realized that dispite my pride, its ok to rely on my mom for things. I have found that having to go to my parents for money has not only made me appreciate their graciousness, but it has made me see how blessed I was before and how i still am so blessed. I know God is still calling me to tithe and I am doing so with the faith that he will provide, and guess what?? He Has.

2) For the first time and a very long time, my family is finally stable. I cant tell you how long it I have prayed for life to be just normal. And you know what, God always answers our prayers, maybe not in our time frame, but in his, and you know what? My mom is now getting married at the Ritz in Miami to a wonderful man of God... hows that for an answered prayer.

3) Finally, the big one... i started working in student ministry again... I cant tell you how good it feels to be where I feel like I belong again. I have been praying for just paitence in every aspect of my life. As far as relationships go, im done doing it my way. I am finally content waiting on Gods timing... if its today, tomorrow, next week, for 5 years... he has never let me down in any aspect, and I dont know why Ive doubted him in this area of my life.

So there it is... my life up until this point... lots has changed, some good and some bad, but I'm a work in progress and as long as I keep my feet on the ground and eyes on God, life is and will continue to be....GOOD!

NCLB

The upcomming election is rapidly approaching, and as the days are counting down the real issues have come to the forefront. As a future teacher, and a current student, Education has become a primary issue and concern on my part. Early on in President Bush's term, he implimented the "No Child Left Behind" act. The goal was to subject students around the country to national assesments to test the indivudal's level of reading, math, and science skills in comparison the rest of the country. The goal was intended by the year 2014 for every child to meet a standard of reading and math scores on the assesment tests. A seemingly good idea; however, the program, although good in theory was never properly funded or carried out.


A question that has been raised for the upcomming election has been whether to revise or removed the current policy in place. After listening to both canidates on this issue, I must admit, my opinions reside with Senator Obama. In his speech regarding NCLB Act, he says:
"The assessment tools are inadaquate to measure a child's comprehension level. Although I do believe in setting a high standard, children reach their benchmark of high standards throughout different points in their education. The NCLB policy must be revised to form a growth model, to track a students progress. Instead of penalizing schools and teachers for not having students meeting a high standard, instead provide them the tools and resources needed to improve test scores. To recieve funding, progress must be made every year."

After hearing Senator Obama's comments on this issue, I happen to agree. I think we all can agree that the status quo of education in the United States is not acceptable. Test scores are at an all time low. Forcing children to reach a standard at the same point in their lives is an impossible task to attempt to accomplish. Ask anyone with more than one child and they will tell you that no two children reach the same peak in benchmark at the same time. I believe that these tests undermine the quality of educaution and promote superficial educaution goals that prevent real learning from progressing.

It should be abolished and a new growth model set into place so that schools and teachers can recieve funding and resources to ensure that ever child is truly never left behind.

Where do you stand??

I have and continue to view voting as not only a civic duty, but an honor and priveldge... Not only as a woman, but as an American. Nothing angers me more than ignorance, and unfourtunately my generation has no limited its level of ignorance especially when it comes to politics and the running of our country, the sad but true reality is sometimes, people plain and simply, do not care. Up until recently I have been guilty of viewing politics as simply black and white, and while the race of each of our canidates does not help this issue, I have removed the veil and have realized that there is more to politics than the extreme liberal vs. conservative viewpoints.

Although it is sad to say, the majority of my life, it had been drilled into my brain that conservative/ republican = good and democrat/liberal = bad. Of course that is just my blunt analyzation, but close enough for the most part. My life was consumed with the moral components of an election, that I never actually took the time to stop and think further than my normal realm of thinking. Although it embarasses me to admit, many are guilty of the same thing.

So with the upcomming election rapidly approaching ive been forced to choose. Forced to think...
Heres what I've come up with so far:

1) Moral issues are very important to me, I DO NOT believe in abortion; however, who am I or anyone else for that matter to tell a woman what to do or not to do with her body

2) I DO NOT believe in using the sanctity of marriage for two men or two women, but I do believe they should be given the same rights and benefits as any other married couple.

3) War in Iraq.... well lets not even get started on that....

The bottom line is I, like many Americans have moral opinions and beliefs that go both ways and do not rest on the republican or democratic side....
What has finally helped me decide who to vote for was my Mother. She is 43, in shape ( really she has a 6-pack) and your average mother of 3.... problem?? She has type 1 diabeties. She cannot survive without insulin... she also has thyroid diesese, and a fractured spine. All of these dieseses she needs medicine and medication to live, and because these are all pre-existing conditions no one will ensure her. She is currently in nursing school just so she can work for a hospital to attain health benefits.... recently she found a company to ensure her.... for $805.00 A MONTH!!!!! Thats more than some people's rent (prob. not in south florida).

Something that once was never a concern of mine has now come to center stage. Although it does not directly effect me now, I carry the same genes of my mother, if i am diagnosed with a diesese (which is extremely likely) what will I do then??

Im not going to reveal who I am voting for because I do not feel it is my place to try to influence anyone... I ask if you are uninformed...get informed!!! So many people fought and died for our right to vote. People constantly complain about our country and the state of our economy... well now you have a voice, use it.