that I had taken for granted” (283). She was exposed to the cultural shock that surroundings did not comfort the citizens. As she learned how to appreciate neglected objects through out the journey, many can feel lucky to belong to a nation that took good care of citizens and ran things efficiently. Another way to sense precious messages can be done by seeing others’ pain. Sometimes, understanding parents’ grief inspires their children. One would gradually benefit by hearing his/her parents’ experiences with places where s/he has never been. One can gain knowledge of a place by studying books, but that will only provide structural information about it. Lee learns and senses many things about China by listening his mother and grandmother’s songs. They sing about their homeland where they are not allowed to go back. “Both women begun to cry. But neither stops her song” (279). They want him to remember his heritage by listening them singing. People sing to release sorrow inside and express their feeling towards they are longing. By paying attention to one’s grief indirectly demonstrates a lesson. The last way to teach new truths can be done by experiencing pain with or without knowing at the time of an event. One can be taught lessons from shameful situation s/he was in, and it can strength his/her personality and encourage him/her to help someone who is in need. As a child before going to school, Gregory did not know what a shame or hate was. However, an act he performed to impress a girl he liked engaged him a bitter memory. “There was shame everywhere” (257). Whatever he did, wherever he went, he could not get over the shameful moment. When he realized he could help someone who was putted into a shameful position, he acted late that damage was already done. Embarrass minute only lasts at that time, and it is in one’s mind that keeps guilt in ...
