Pairs to the Moon- Gopnik
In this article, Gopnik discusses the European culture and his experiences that he goes through in Paris with his wife and his son Luke. Gopnik’s tone in the article seems very sarcastic and he also has a dry sense of humor throughout the reading. Since I have never been out of the United States, it is interesting to hear the distinction between American and European culture. I especially liked when Gopnik talks about how customers in Europe are “always wrong.” When he went to buy a toaster oven and it broke, the salesperson blamed it on him and was disgusted that he returned it. In America, the employees who work at stores are considerate when it comes to returns.
The author doesn’t talk bad about Europe. He mostly describes things that are out of his norm, but it seems that he is adapting well to the culture.
Native Hill- Berry
When I first started reading this article, I noticed the description that Berry used to describe Kentucky. “The river, whose waters have carved the hill and so descended from it, lies within a hundred steps of my door” (3). This line stuck out to me. There are certain lines that I connect with on a deeper level, and this was definitely one of them. Berry talks about his life. He grew up in Kentucky, and emphasized his love for that state. I respect how the author made a tough decision of either continuing his life in New York or going back to Kentucky.
This article was very difficult for me to understand, but what I gained most from it was Berry’s love for his hometown. He went outside of his comfort zone and experienced living in a variety of different places. He lived in California, Europe, and New York. By living in other places for several years, he realized that Kentucky was his fate and that’s where he belonged. In a strange way, I can relate to the author. My brother went away for training for seven months to Georgia and was excited to be in a different environment. Halfway through his stay, he realized how much he missed New Jersey. By being away from something for so long, it gives you a chance to miss it, which can turn out to be a good thing.
In this article, Gopnik discusses the European culture and his experiences that he goes through in Paris with his wife and his son Luke. Gopnik’s tone in the article seems very sarcastic and he also has a dry sense of humor throughout the reading. Since I have never been out of the United States, it is interesting to hear the distinction between American and European culture. I especially liked when Gopnik talks about how customers in Europe are “always wrong.” When he went to buy a toaster oven and it broke, the salesperson blamed it on him and was disgusted that he returned it. In America, the employees who work at stores are considerate when it comes to returns.
The author doesn’t talk bad about Europe. He mostly describes things that are out of his norm, but it seems that he is adapting well to the culture.
Native Hill- Berry
When I first started reading this article, I noticed the description that Berry used to describe Kentucky. “The river, whose waters have carved the hill and so descended from it, lies within a hundred steps of my door” (3). This line stuck out to me. There are certain lines that I connect with on a deeper level, and this was definitely one of them. Berry talks about his life. He grew up in Kentucky, and emphasized his love for that state. I respect how the author made a tough decision of either continuing his life in New York or going back to Kentucky.
This article was very difficult for me to understand, but what I gained most from it was Berry’s love for his hometown. He went outside of his comfort zone and experienced living in a variety of different places. He lived in California, Europe, and New York. By living in other places for several years, he realized that Kentucky was his fate and that’s where he belonged. In a strange way, I can relate to the author. My brother went away for training for seven months to Georgia and was excited to be in a different environment. Halfway through his stay, he realized how much he missed New Jersey. By being away from something for so long, it gives you a chance to miss it, which can turn out to be a good thing.