Baba's Perception of America

Baba was definitely in love with the idea of living in America. On page 125 he called it ‘ America the brash savior’. Clearly in the text we can see that the United States did not live up to his expectations. Its seems that the years spent in their new homeland up until the point in Chapter 11 took a lot out of Baba and really wore him down. He lost control of his inhibitions on page 128 when he took out all his frustrations on the store owner when he asked him for his ID. It is a very insignificant gesture to get so enraged over but a number of factors must have influenced this behavior. Baba was living in the past where he was a man of great influence and character, but now he was a simple gas station assistant. He had to serve others where he was used to being waited on. It must have put a lot of pressure on his dignity and self worth.

He obviously saw America as this place of power and offered opportunity for a bright new beginning. But instead he got a new life he never bargained for.

Amir on the other hand was happy with their relocation because it gave him the opportunity to escape his memories he wasn’t too fond of. Especially the memory of Hassan in the alley.

As an international student before arriving in America my expectations were very high. The saying, ‘ the grass is always greener on the other side’, applies very well to my thought process during my relocation to America. I visualized America as this country of perfection, power and opportunity. There is definitely so much more opportunity when it comes to education and America is very influential on the rest of the world. But by no means is this country perfect. I have come to realize that every country has its pros and cons. There are still serious issues to be dealt with. Coming to this realization has really made me appreciate and see the beauty of my own country. Amongst the animosity I have gained due to the rising crime rates in South Africa, I had lost the pride I used to hold for my own home. I now am proudly South African and will never doubt that again.

Kite Runner Chapter 10 and 11

Baba likes America, he says only the America is the “True Man” in the world and he definitely loves the ideas of America. But he has sometimes doubts about America. We can see that when he said “What kind of country is this? No one trusts anybody!” I think he just try to adjust with a new life but he still like America. And what I can see from chapter 11 that he is very proud of his son, Amir.
When I was home and I was thinking about America and Americans I was a little scared. Maybe because I was thinking that they are not so friendly and sociably. But now my thought is different. They are friendly, not all of them but many of them are friendly, sociably and they just want to help you. I have a good impression about America, maybe this is not so good because every person is different and I think someday I’ll be disappointed. I’m disappointed just for food because is not healthy and for school. Here the college it’s like high school in my country.

kite runner chapter10&11

Baba likes the idea of America because he thought America, Britain and Israel were three countries with own opinion and ambitions, they could do some active actions rather than just talk about unpractical idea. In his opinion, other countries were like gossiping old wamen--only chart about others and hard on the heels of the three countries. Baba liked Reaga, the man with ambitions, who took action instead of wringing his heads. It hints that Baba admired the people who could took action. It is the point of idea of America,which Baba liked.

The reality was fardifferent from what Baba thought. Baba thought that he would get peace and safety in America. I don't know whether he got or not.But I think that Baba got a potential sense of strange and upset. Baba had a tough time of adjusting America. He thought that everybody trusts each other in America, just like what people did in Kabul. He felt insulted by asking to see his license.

As a international student in America, I also experienced a tough time to adjusting the life in America. Obviously, it is really different from what I thought.It is more beautiful and bigger than my imagination.The people are fervidly and friendly. But some culture difference made me
feel sad. The way of having class is so different.The opinion what Americans thought is so different.

Kite runner chapter 10 & 11

In chapter 11, the author talked about their life in American. In the beginning of chapter 11, Amir says that “Baba liked the idea of America.” On the whole, Baba liked the life in America, although he met some things he did not like. In page 125, He says that “There are only three men in this world, Amir, He’d count them off on his fingers: America the brash savior, Britain, and Israel.” What’s more, he also went in for the president Ronald Reagan. On the other hand, he also had some things he was not satisfied. In page 126, But the Bay Area’s smog stung his eyes, the traffic noise gave him headaches, and the pollen made him cough. The fruit was never sweet enough, the water never clean enough, and where were all the trees and open fields?” “What kind of country is this? No one trusts anybody!”
To me, I am an international student. The real America almost like what I expected. It’s an open and beautiful country. The only thing I am disappointed is the weather here.

Kite Runner Chapters 10 & 11

In chapter 11, the author wrote that Baba like America’s idea. The reason is in page 111, Baba said, “There are only three real men in this world,” and he think that “America the brash savior, Britain, and Israel.” Although he likes the idea of American, Baba can’t fit in the life in American. In page 112, it said, “but the bay area’s smog stung his eyes, the traffic noise gave him headaches, and the pollen made him cough.” It almost looks like everything is not enough good. Also, Baba is not good at English, and some people in America do not like him. Just like Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen, in page 113, Mr. Nguyen said, “He’s crazy. Not welcome anymore.” After this kind of things happened, Baba become to the person that always thinks the past life is better than now. So, sometimes the realities are really different with your thinking.
For me, one of the differences between my idea of America and the reality of living in America is that to study in American college is more difficult than what I thought. I think in America you need work more hard than in China. One thing that is similar with my idea is there really have some rigorous law are you just be able to do something when you have the enough age, like drink.

KR Chapter 10&11

Seems like Baba and me has some similar impressions and ideas about America, when I done with reading the Chapter 10 and 11. I would like to say, for Baba, America is a place where he expects it should be excellent and perfect place to live, but, matter of fact, through the reading is it not hard to find America lets Baba down a little bit. Reason is he encounters something that America is not a totally perfect freedom country, even made him angry and regret. There is a situation can proof this. One time, Baba went to buy some fruits and when he checked out and wrote a check for the casher, then the casher asked Baba to show some ID. And this act let Baba feels something really awkward like some sort of discrimination. He says in the book: “What kind of the country? Nobody trusts anybody!” Not only the distrusts made Baba angry with America, also he hates the weather condition there.

On the other hand, we also easily to see at the first of Chapter 11, Baba loves America, he says only the America is the “True Man” in the world, because he thinks only America do some true things instead of talk too much like other country. Baba also admires President Reagan of America, he likes the way president Reagan who becomes Baba’s idol do.

Anyways, he definitely loves the ideas of America, but, the things I said above makes it hard to define how much Baba likes the ideas of America.

As a international student in America, I would like to say, as far as it goes, because the only place I been is here, Kent. So, my expectation for Kent is, I am completely satisfied with everything, except the weather in winter.

The Idea of America

As far as I can see, the idea of America Baba loves is how strong and tough it is in dealing with both its domestic and international relations. Baba believes Jimmy Carter should have not handle America. As Baba said,he is the boy "who can't ride a bike" but wants to drive "a brand new Cadillac."(Chapter 11, Pg. 126) Why he does not appreciate Carter that much? To me, I believe it is because Carter's way of dealing American affairs, announced America would "be boycotting the Olympic Games in Moscow" for example, did not fit the way how Baba believes the America should be according to the idea of America. America need "someone who took action instead of wringing his hands." (Chapter 11,Pg. 126)
In reality, Baba found it is hard to adapt to the "real" idea of American. The smog, the traffic noise, the pollen all made him upset. The most impressive image appeared in my mind to illustrate this is the time Baba bought oranges. It is hard for him to believe the person familiar with him for two years asked for his ID when buying things. It seems too "cold" the relationship between people in America to Baba.
I did not realise the misunderstandings between east and west until I came to America. I used to believe Americans just care about jobs instead of enjoying their lives. But after I was in the US, I found most of Americans do care about their family life much more than working. They take time stay with family members, talking, cooking,travling etc. Not the picture of working all day alone in my old way of consideration.