Blog #13

So, the American Dream .. mmm..

To me the American Dream is the definition of the desired life after the disruption of a past one. I know it sounds weird, but for me America was the dream I am living after three years of constant war and death in Syria. I think what I am living through today is similar to what Americans were living through after World War I. At last, the war is over and we can live in peace. No more waking up to bomb attacks and gun shootings in the middle of the night. Another chance to live normally.  

A chance to be who you were before war. Maybe even better. The opportunity to give life another try. Maybe this time, I will go to college, school, or work. I will become as successful as I ever desired.

To me wealth is not just green paper with pictures and symbols. To me wealth is seeing my friends and family in best shape everyday. Wealth is being able to walk on both of my legs feeling as healthy as I can be. Happiness and love are wealth. I think I am rich enough.

American's value wealth and work to serve their dreams and needs. In the United States, life is based on how hard you work and the more time you put into your job, school and life the more successful you are.  Every American has a similar goal in life. Goals revolve around the idea of getting to the top. More success, more money. Americans want to be successful and wealthy to fulfill that American Dream that must immigrants want.  

Furthermore, being an American/Syrian teenager I have my own future goals and dreams. The normal finish high school and go to college kind of dreams. For me, this idea and set goals within society are okay because I see the logic behind these goals. However, some people desire different paths that might not require high school or college. In that situation, people might call it failing. Others will call it free will. In my opinion, what ever pleases a person and makes them satisfied with their lives is the "American Dream"

I want to be the person that I have always been, while developing new skills and becoming a better human being, My goals involve hard work and patients because nothing comes easy. My "American Dream" is making reality worth living.

Blog #12

#1:As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

the use of syntax with showing the reader a normal start with a surprising reality

use of imagery twice in this sentence 

the use of "uneasy" instead of "difficult"

diction "gigantic" and "insect" seems formal 

#2:Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.

the use of syntax with "woke from" and "to find" 

the use of "uneasy" again

the use of "morning"

diction: "giant bug" simplistic 

#3:When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.

the use of "troubled dreams" nightmares?

the use of second person "he found"

the detailed description "in his bed"

#4:One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.

listing with the actions that are happening

diction: "upon awaking" and "monstrous vermin"

Response to the question:

The first translation, makes the reader think with the use of syntax that Gregor Samsa is having a normal day until he awoke to discover his transformation. Also, that translation uses scientific language to describe his transformation, "gigantic insect." in the second translation, the translator chose to use imagery in the translation by structuring the sentence in a way that made the reader feel like Gregor Samsa did something wrong that caused his transformation. In addition, the third translation, the translator uses second person to refer back to Gregor, which allowed more connection between the reader and the narrator and the translator uses detailed imagery to help strengthen that connection. Furthermore, the forth translation uses listing, which keeps the reader anxious to discover what is going to happen next. Also, keeps the reader's thoughts busy thinking.

Looking at each translation, the first translation is the most effective to me because the use of syntax made it more surprising and interesting. As well, the use of listing in the forth translation was extremely effective because it made the reader think more about the event.

Translation is difficult because you can never get the exact meaning from the text. For example, when I had to translate my poem for the International Festival last year, I could not translate word by word because the poem would sound horrible; therefore, I had to change certain words and the structure of certain sentences to make it sound appealing.

The more literal the translation is the less effective kit becomes because languages cannot be translated exactly. Therefore, translations require changes with word choice to make the translated text fit the language.