Queen+of+Water+Discussion

= Book - //The Queen of Water// Discussion Page: Reading must be completed by __January 12th.__ =

Discussion #3: Pages 200 - end due by Jan 12
=== This page will be for our online discussion of the book. Some of you may have completed this book already, but others have not. As you can see above, I have split our book discussion into 3 segments, therefore please keep your comments and responses specific to the pages for each segment of our discussions as identified by the pages and dates above. ===

=== //This page is editable. Simply click on the edit tab in the upper right to begin typing on this page. When you are done, be sure to hit the SAVE button.// Please include your name and type in any color but this shade of blue. All MAD comments will be in this color. Use the "T" with the color globe on it in the tool bar to change the color of your text. Please type your questions below the dotted line. ===

==== **__Posting Directions:__** Keep all initial posts between 100 - 150 words and responses to classmate's between 75 - 100 words. Please adhere to these word counts. [Note: If you type your response in Word, you can highlight your post, go to Tools on the menu bar, then select Word Count from the drop down menu to determine how long you post is.] IMPORTANT: After you write your initial post, end with a series of dashes or === signs so that each person's post can be split from one another. When you RESPOND/COMMENT on a classmates post, type within the dashes of their original post. **See the example below.** ==== ========================================================================================================== **Example**: "Your Name" - This would be my initial Post that would be between 100 - 150 words only. "Classmate's Name" - This would then be the 75 - 100 word response or comment made by a classmate using a different color that appears within ====== marks. This will help us keep our discussions organized. =========================================================================================================== Discussion #1: Please give your initial impressions of the story and characters. Use a different color for your comments and give your name as you start your statement. You should write an initial statement by Saturday, Dec. 8th and one additional responses to another classmate's initial response by Saturday, Dec. 15th.==== Andrea Richards 12/8 -Historically, child abuse, trafficking, indenture, etc. have existed. I had never really read anything in such depth about young girls sold or given to other families in South America in order to have better lives or bring back money to their families. I can't imagine waking up one day thinking it would be an ordinary day and then having to pack up and leave my family for another where at such a young age I would be expected to be a nanny in a dysfunctional "family." I found myself cheering her on as she jumped on the bed, watched television and snuck around doing other activities that were off limits. =====

Suzanne Missert (response 12/11) Unfortunately, Boston and surrounding areas have a lot of slavery (human trafficking) going on right here. I heard a few months ago of a woman who escaped from a home where she had been enslaved; she escaped and wandered into a church looking for help. She had been kept in a residential neighborhood, and the neighbors knew nothing. There are a few organizations in the Boston area, such as the Polaris Project, addressing this horrendous problem.

Toby Adams 1/6- My initial impression of the story and characters were that although this story is unique to Virginia and her spirit it is not an uncommon story. Sadly, still today this story of slavery is common. I was moved by her experiences and more so by her actions and feelings. She is able to make personal connections throughout the story. Her resiliency is what truly amazed me.

============================================================================================================ Suzanne Missert 12/9 I was very surprised at how young Virginia was when she first was taken to watch the baby; she was around 9 yrs. old with no real experience. Why would the couple want someone that young and inexperienced to watch their precious child? I also was impressed with how adaptable Virginia was. She was outside most of every day of her life, communicating with and finding comfort in the animals. She then was forced inside constantly, and she found ways to entertain herslef and learn in that way as well. Her first two relationships with adult males (Her father and Nino Carlitos) were abusive, where they held the traditional power. However, Virginia was able to free herself from both.

Even in captivity, Virginia goes through typical female adolescent behavior: primping before she went out to buy eggs, looking at herself in the mirror and acting out dreams. Even though she is in a world with which I'm not familiar, we easily can relate to the character in so many ways. I joined the book discussion on-line, and they showed photos of the house she was born in and her parents. It was very interesting.

Katelyn Barry (Response to Suzette Mizzert) - This part of the story amazes me because as a individual who works with young children, I could never imagine such a young child taking care of a baby! Virginia was a young child herself being held responsible for important daily chores such as cooking and cleaning, when some of my students can't even get on their winter coats the correct way. Virginia's maturity and independence is outstanding!

Shari Fedorowicz (response to Suzanne Missert) I have to agree with you..I was thinking the same thing. Why would you pick a child to watch and raise your own child. And she was a natural at it. I wonder if it is the age where they are responsible enough yet malleable enough that they could shape her to be the nanny and dismiss her wants to go back home. Almost a "breakable" age. Yet, she kept a positive attitude!

Toby Adams (response to Katelyn Barry and Shari Fedorowicz) I lived a rural poverty stricken county of Northern California for five years. Most children are talking care of other children. Many of them as young as Virginia. They are the parents of the younger children while their parents are working in the fields, or picking fruit. Many are left alone for long periods of time to watch their younger siblings. These children become responsible at very young ages. They are self-reliant. For example here student from K-3 are walked everywhere within the school building. There all student are able to make it from place to place within the building alone and only K students are not allowed to walk home alone. All other students 98% of the population walk home typically without an adult. I miss the students who are responsible for themselves and how they conduct themselves.

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========================================================================================= Response to Suzette Missert, 12/16 I imagine that in Virginia's culture, it was very common for very young girls to care for infants/toddlers. It must have created such a complex relationship between Virginia and the children. It interesting to imagine the sibling-like relationship that might have developed, yet one child was a servant. I can imagine the pressure of the responsibility for the child's care, while also needing to maintain an attitude of servitude. Lauren Koelbl ====================================================================================================== Lauren Koelbl, 12/9 I have been most interested in the relationship between Virginia and the Doctorita. The Doctorita holds the position of primary the breadwinner in her household. While I’m sure that gender roles vary across class and ethnicity, this was still something that struck me. I found myself surprised that a woman who seemingly values her independence and autonomy would treat another human in such a repressive way. I wonder how much of the Doctorita’s actions were influenced by her class culture. I was also struck by the complexities of their relationship. Virginia is clearly a victim of abuse at the hands of the Doctorita, yet she tries to understand the Doctorita and develops some sympathy for her.

Shari Meyer, response 12/12 There is, of course, no excusing the Doctorita's hypocritical and cruel treatment of Virginia, but I did note that the racial differences between these two women are as small as the class differences are large. Carlitos, the Doctorita's husband, calls his wife La Negra, even though Virginia describes her skin as "the same cinnamon-tea color as mine, a shade darker than most // mestizos' // skin" (Resau 17). The exaggerated importance of skin color suggests that the individuals in this society have more history in common than they might like to admit, and the upper class is seeking to differentiate themselves as much as possible from the lower.

====================================================================================================== Andrea Richards 12/15 Shari, both of your responses reminded me of the novel, __Maniac Magee__, which I am reading with my students. Maniac searches for an "address" or a home throughout the novel. I was able to tie in Langston Hughes' short story, "Thank You Ma'm" as well as other stories addressing illiteracy and homelessness. In the novel, Maniac thinks of Mrs. Beale (minor character) not as black but of cinnamon colored or even butterscotch. Your comment also reminded me of a time when I was teaching adult ELLs. A young man from Brazil hurried into school one day quite upset. While stopped at a gas station, he asked the clerk a question; she responded quite rudely, apparently, which upset my student. Daniel was concerned that she had treated him poorly because his skin was so dark. I was shocked to hear that this is what he thought since his skin was as white as mine. Of course, we discussed it, and he came to understand that it was neither he nor his skin color that brought on such rudeness. However, how interesting it was that he felt this way. I am still unsure if his reaction was due to prejudice that occurred in his country, or if he remembered United States history and current attitudes towards immigrants. ============================================

Merideth Ekwall 12/12 - The reader gains a good sense of Virginia as an imaginative and headstrong child - one who is sometimes defiant but wants nothing more than a loving family. Throughout the first third of the story, we begin to see just how her imagination, defiance, and determination serve her well in terms of coping with her adjustment to Doctorita's and Nino Carlitos' expectations and restrictions. I connected with Virgina and sympathized with her difficult and confusing situation. I smiled inwardly as she defied Doctorita's rules, danced to forbidden music, and gushed over MacGyver on television. However, my heart broke for Virginia as she lost herself in fantasies in which someone loved and admired her. What a horrible experience to have one's familial and cultural identities challenged at such a young age.

Katy White- I agree with you Merideth, I also liked to see Virginia defy the Doctorita's rules. She was smart about it, making sure to turn the tv off so it could cool before she got home. The things she was exposed to through the tv shows, music, books it was interesting to see her shed her indigenous ways and really take on more of a mestizo identity. Even though she understood that she was not the same as the family she was working for, she also felt as though she was no longer a true indigenous either. With no one to give her guidance this identity crisis must have been difficult to deal with.

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Katy White 12/12 My first reaction to the story as I was reading was such shock at how young Virginia was when she was taken from her family. It was so interesting that families could come in from the city and just confiscate children of indigenous farmers as their own servants. Slavery here ended so long ago, it is hard to imagine actions like that still happening in other areas of the world. I can sympathize with Virginia's confusion over her situation. I can imagine how tortured she must have felt thinking that her family no longer wanted her, or that they would not come to look for her. To be so young and under the strict control of this family left her powerless to run away. It must have crushed her to be stripped of her identity and all she knew. The story was compelling, and even though Virginia went through so much it kept me turning pages late into the night. I found this story very interesting!

Jo Curran - Hi Katy! I had very similar thoughts as I read. I was particularly struck by the idea that the family was working on a farm they can remember once owning. Most disturbing to me was not even the income that they no longer controlled, but even more tragic it seemed, is the pride they no longer had in working their own land. The job was never easy, but having to go out every day and face hours of back-breaking work with nothing to show, and no end in sight, makes this life even more unbearable.

Katelyn Barry - (Response to Katy White) - When I first started reading this book, Virginia amazed me from the first chapter. I liked her spunk (having a pet goat), her bravery and strength were admirable. She was taken from her home so abruptly but appeared to hold strong and move on. She is strong woman who has overcome some so much in her life.

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=============================================================================================== Janine Panechelli - I was not surprised at the responsibility given to Virginia at such a young age having seen it first hand when I lived in Bolivia. I was surprised at the whole transaction, child labor for family income. I did not see that in the village I lived in or in those I came to know. It makes me wonder how much of it did happen and I was unaware. It is ironic that the strong, Doctorita and Nino Carlitos, (though truly weak), prey on the weak, Virginia (amazingly strong).

====================================================================================================== Shari Meyer, 12/12 It is impossible not to love Virginia, who is absolutely vivísima throughout the novel. Her family has treated her so poorly, yet she wants nothing more than their love. These conflicted emotions follow her into her new home with Carlitos and the Doctorita. Virginia's description of the chairs, upholstered in "a red that makes me think of juicy berries one moment, and blood the next" (Resau 13) perfectly blend the creature comforts and physical danger that she experiences in this environment. I also really loved Virginia's imagination of how it will feel to be freed from slavery, and the way she compares it to chemistry: "A giant explosion? Or a slow, bubbling transformation?" (Resau 97). This language reminds me of the Langston Hughes poem "A Dream Deferred," with the happy difference, of course, that Maria Virginia's dream will not be deferred. She will fight for her freedom, and she will win.

Merideth Ekwall - Shari, I too picked up on some of the vivid language used to portray Virginia's youth, curiosity, and confusion. From the very beginning of the story, Virginia was conflicted over family versus status - despite her mistreatment in both her home village and under Doctorita's supervision. Laura Resau portrayed this conflict through Virgina's imagination.

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Nicole Ball 12/13 As Virginia told her story I found myself connecting with her. There were times when I knew that the outcome of a situation would not turn out well, but I continued to hope, as she did for the best. I loved her imagination and courage, and watching it grow throughout the story. I thought the whole idea of wishing and hoping for something better in life is something we can all related to. However, when that dream or wish is nothing like we expected it to be, we want to go back. Virginia’s struggle to want to fit in and be loved and accepted was disheartening. I felt sorry for her as she went back and forth with her decisions about whether or not to leave the Doctorita and Carlos. Virginia’s story is truly inspiring and made me think of the book __Half the Sky__, where they tell the success stories of women all over the world who are or have been in similar situations. Once again, I am reminded that although life gets tough at some points, there are women all over the world who are being sold and abused, and others that have made it through these horrific circumstances.

Lynne Peloquin response #1-Nicole, I think in some ways, early on, Virginia's innocence protected her from the harsh reality of what was to come. She found meaning and a sense of belonging in the simplest things; starting with her attachment to her goat, Cheetah. Things changed dramatically for her at a young age and the only 'stability' she knew was gone. Virginia's story was inspiring; though sadly, not so typical for someone who has experienced such longstanding trauma and oppression.

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Jo Curran 12/18 I entered the story with caution. I had read some reviews that were quick to refer to the novel as fiction, and yet, I knew it was based on someone’s life. As I recognized her story in the limited contacts I have had with indigenous people living in the mountains of Ecuador and Peru, I relaxed and really appreciated the insight her story offers. I like to travel to areas that still have a rich indigenous population, in fact, (and I’m sorry if I’m quoting from further on in the reading) Virginia even noted that it is the colorful native dress and customs that attract tourists who populate the restaurants and hotels of the rich. I think it’s so important to remember that this group of people we hope to learn from, is suffering from lack of opportunity, freedom and respect in their native country. ===========================================================================================================

Katelyn Barry 12/19 The beginning pages of The Queen of Water, paints a detailed picture describing each character and outlining some of the issues in Ecuador. Laura Resau explains each character in such detail you can vividly see their strengths and weaknesses, emotionally and physically. Virginia is one character I especially admire because of her strength and perseverance. Being taken from your home at the young age of seven, to care for a young child is a terrible event to happen to a child. She transitions with relative ease to the Doctorita and Nino Carlitos home to help run their household while being physically and mentally abused. The other characters such as Doctorita and Nino Carlitos are depicted as wicked people, who take for granted all the chores and responsibility Virginia upholds for them and their son. However, there are little slivers of caring and kindness they show infrequently to Virginia. Throughout all this, it is amazing the way Virginia’s life seems to carry on with this new family, and her pursuit to survive and accept her new life.

Dan Norton (response to Katelyn Barry) Also working with young children, it is astounding to me that someone at this age could be taken and given the responsibilities of an adult. It is crazy to see children this age who can barely navigate the halls of Center School, be dealt such a tough hand. Along with fulfilling these responsibilities, she was mentally and physically abused yet remained strong through these hardships.

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Dan Norton My initial impression of the story is that there are still many challenges in Ecuador that many people in the culture are forced to deal with. Resau outlines challenges such as child labor, physical and mental abuse. Being from a different culture I can not imagine what these people must go through on a daily basis. Through the novel's main character, Virginia, the author shows courage, strength and responsibility. Virginia's "new family" consists of Doctorita and Nino Carlitos, who treated her more like a slave than a regular child. Throughout the first part of the book, Viriginia continues to hold strong despite these rough transitions in her life.

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Shari Fedorowicz How could such a mother and father give away their 6 or 7 year old to become a slave, was my initial impression. As the story develops, however, the situation in the environment she was living in with her mother and father was not what it had appeared initially. I felt so badly she had to leave Cheetah, her best friend, when she went with Nino Carlitos and Doctorita. It was evident that the initial impression of the Doctorita was going to be bad. She held true to her character- abusive and mean, but not as mean as her biological parents. Nino Carlitos seems to be a good influence in her life, almost a protector in a bad situation...a father she didnt have. It is amazing how strong Virginia is mentally. She keeps a positive attitude, learns what she can and seems to have put up this mental wall against the Doctorita verbally and emotionally abusing her. I good balance has been Nino Carlitos (although I think he is afraid to stick up to Doctorita). Virginia is always looking to the future in a positive way...and daydreaming.

Lynne Peloquin Discusssion #1 Virginia reached beyond "the distinction that seemed as old and fixed as the mountains." Resilience is difficult to quantify.What enables one person find the strength to push against and beyond the bounds of personal experience or alternately how that same experience might disturb the balance of an individual momentarily or long into their life? This is the issue that resounded with me as I began to understand the predetermined position of Virginia, born into a family of indigenas. At birth, Virginia's fate was seemingly sealed.Yet, something in those dark earthen walls held the glimmer of hope; of something more. Virginia was drawn to the smallest opening of light and sweet honey, of hope, of purpose.She reached for it then and over and over again, How was Virginia able to dream differently; to nurture that dream despite every life experience that proclaimed her worthless?