TFA+Journal+5+(Sarah+B)

Text-to-Self: At the end of Chapter Thirteen, Okonkwo was forced to leave his beloved village, Umofia, and seek refuge in his mother's homeland. When I was young, my dad went to work in Singapore, and of course our family followed. I can relate to Okonkwo's situation, because leaving the place where you've always been and being thrown into a totally new environment can be difficult and confusing.

Uchendu says that: "Okonkow had yielded to despair and he was greatly troubled" (p. 131). Okonkwo was having a hard time adjusting, and felt no pleasure in the things that he had once felt pleasure for, such as planting yams. Like Okonkwo, I took a while to start fitting in at my new school. I remember during the first few months, I cried everyday. I didn't know a word of English, and it was a terrifying experience. Going to school used to be fun for me, but now I didn't want to get on the school bus.

At the end of the reading, Uchendu gives Okonkwo a few wise words and some advice. Unlike him, I didn't receive either of the things he had, and I wish I could've. While reading the book, I wondered how things would've changed.

Prediction: I think that because Okonkwo has heard what Uchendu had to tell him about suffering and respecting women/mothers, he will start to lead a new lifestyle where his wives and women will be respected just as much as men. Okonkwo will start living life to the fullest again, and perform all his duties as a strong husband and father. The next few chapters may be about the seven years that Okonkwo spends in his mother's village, but I think that towards the end of the book, Oknkwo will move that to Umofia, and come back as even a greater warrior than he already was!

Question: Do you think it's important that when we're lost, we need somebody to encourage us? Why?