A Dream of China:Discussion

1. "However, China had nothing to say to my spirit, if indeed land speaks to sprirt. My spirit was an alien here as I was. It inclined towards a diamond city of trees and meaningful occupation, effciently sparkling in the modern world. That was where I truly belonged, among skyscrapers with glass fronts and gold-encrusted orchids."
Do you think the reference to Singapore as a "diamond city is apt? Why or Why not? How would you describe your feelings towards Singapore, using imagery you feel sutable?

I think it is sutable to refer Singapore as a "diamond city".
It is because Singapore is a small island but it is very strong as there are a stronge bond between peoples. And diamond is also small but it is impossible to hurt it because there are a bond between the carbon.
I find Singapore is the infinity country which can overcome various of difficulties and challenges, such like a diamond.

2."With great grandness, my uncle ordered orange drinks from the waiter. He criticized the glasses as dirty when the dirnks arrived and insisted on new ones......I kept buying him the orange drinks he swallowed with such relish."

Why do you think her uncle behaves in this manner? Do you feel sorry for him or do you regard him with distaste, as his niece does?

I think Her uncle behaves in this manner is because he is thirsty, and the author is his niece. Therefore, he finds it is fine to him to behave in that manner. However, it would be unpleasant to me if my uncle behaved like that. It is because I am younger than him, and he is not my father, there is no reason to me for keep buying drinks to him.

3. "I returned to Singapore alienated from the China I saw, but no less eager to listen to my father's stories of the most beautiful of beautiful lands."

Do you find this a contradiction? Why or why not?

I agree that the statement is contradiction, because author faced the bad manner from her uncle. Although China is totally different from the stories that what her father said, the myth is still attracting author because dreams are more pleasurable than the reaility, an it can boost her motivation in life.

4."A country is only good as its men. My father is a good man......whichever country can claim him as its own."

What do you think the narrator means by the first statement?
To what extent would you agree that her father is a good man? Give reasons for your answer. Which country, do you think, should claim him for its own?

According to the first statement, I think the narrator means that the country will become better if the citizens here are good. I agree that narrator's father is a good man because he miss his homeland, he always tell narrator about the story of the beautiful China. However, he also find his guilt to stay in Singapore because he did not stay in China to fight and bring it's better future. I think that the country which wants to become good, should claim narrator's father for its own. It is because the country is not only good as its men but the government itself too. If the goverenment in that country is bad and it claims good men for its own. The coutry will not become better.