Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the author's main experience in life before arriving in the United States?
What was the author's main experience in life before arriving in the United States?
What did the author's visa status require him to do within three months of arriving in the United States?
What did the author's visa status require him to do within three months of arriving in the United States?
Which of the following best describes the author's feelings towards happiness and normality before coming to the U.S.?
Which of the following best describes the author's feelings towards happiness and normality before coming to the U.S.?
What was one major hurdle the author faced when trying to enroll in school?
What was one major hurdle the author faced when trying to enroll in school?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the author describe their past experience since the age of eleven?
How did the author describe their past experience since the age of eleven?
Signup and view all the answers
What action did the author's mother take to help him with school enrollment?
What action did the author's mother take to help him with school enrollment?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'sufficient' mean in this context?
What does the term 'sufficient' mean in this context?
Signup and view all the answers
What is indicated about the author's view on life in New York?
What is indicated about the author's view on life in New York?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the narrator feel about the advice given by his friends?
How did the narrator feel about the advice given by his friends?
Signup and view all the answers
What observation did the narrator make about his friends' attitudes towards violence?
What observation did the narrator make about his friends' attitudes towards violence?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'rehabilitation' refer to in the context of the author’s experience?
What does the term 'rehabilitation' refer to in the context of the author’s experience?
Signup and view all the answers
What habits did the narrator develop from his experiences?
What habits did the narrator develop from his experiences?
Signup and view all the answers
What activity did the narrator partake in with his friends that made him feel like a child again?
What activity did the narrator partake in with his friends that made him feel like a child again?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one of the worries the narrator and his friends shared while hanging out?
What was one of the worries the narrator and his friends shared while hanging out?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator wish to experience through his friends?
What did the narrator wish to experience through his friends?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant event occurred after about a year of friendship?
What significant event occurred after about a year of friendship?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the initial reaction of the narrator towards the face paint?
What was the initial reaction of the narrator towards the face paint?
Signup and view all the answers
What strategy did the narrator use while playing paintball?
What strategy did the narrator use while playing paintball?
Signup and view all the answers
Why did the narrator claim to be good at paintball?
Why did the narrator claim to be good at paintball?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the children perceive the narrator after the paintball game?
How did the children perceive the narrator after the paintball game?
Signup and view all the answers
What lesson did the narrator reflect on in relation to warfare?
What lesson did the narrator reflect on in relation to warfare?
Signup and view all the answers
What past experience did the narrator share to explain his skills?
What past experience did the narrator share to explain his skills?
Signup and view all the answers
What misconception did the children have about the narrator's paintball skills?
What misconception did the children have about the narrator's paintball skills?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the group's outcome after the day's activities?
What was the group's outcome after the day's activities?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the author's initial reaction to their friends teaming up against them?
What was the author's initial reaction to their friends teaming up against them?
Signup and view all the answers
Why did the author choose to sit out the game?
Why did the author choose to sit out the game?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the author's friends react after the weekend of paintball?
How did the author's friends react after the weekend of paintball?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the author's concern about sharing their background with friends during the game?
What was the author's concern about sharing their background with friends during the game?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'watered-down version' imply in the context of the author's tactics?
What does the term 'watered-down version' imply in the context of the author's tactics?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the author want their friends to understand about their family situation?
What did the author want their friends to understand about their family situation?
Signup and view all the answers
What phrase reflects the author's view of their friends' perspective on war?
What phrase reflects the author's view of their friends' perspective on war?
Signup and view all the answers
What emotional state did the author attribute to their friends when they decided to sit out the game?
What emotional state did the author attribute to their friends when they decided to sit out the game?
Signup and view all the answers
What primarily influenced the way the speaker communicated in the school setting?
What primarily influenced the way the speaker communicated in the school setting?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the speaker perceive their social interactions during high school?
How did the speaker perceive their social interactions during high school?
Signup and view all the answers
What assumption did some classmates make about the speaker's English?
What assumption did some classmates make about the speaker's English?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the speaker attempt to do to reduce discomfort among peers?
What did the speaker attempt to do to reduce discomfort among peers?
Signup and view all the answers
What were the peers' views of their own toughness?
What were the peers' views of their own toughness?
Signup and view all the answers
Why did the speaker feel the need to control their behavior at school?
Why did the speaker feel the need to control their behavior at school?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant event happened to Ishmael Beah at the age of twelve?
What significant event happened to Ishmael Beah at the age of twelve?
Signup and view all the answers
What stereotype did the speaker find beneficial to portray?
What stereotype did the speaker find beneficial to portray?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'sophistication' refer to in the context of the speaker's communication?
What does 'sophistication' refer to in the context of the speaker's communication?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Ishmael Beah think about the loss of his baggage when arriving in New York City?
What does Ishmael Beah think about the loss of his baggage when arriving in New York City?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the fortune cookie's message indicate to Ishmael Beah?
What does the fortune cookie's message indicate to Ishmael Beah?
Signup and view all the answers
How did Ishmael Beah's new adoptive mother react when they met?
How did Ishmael Beah's new adoptive mother react when they met?
Signup and view all the answers
What major theme is highlighted in Ishmael Beah's narrative?
What major theme is highlighted in Ishmael Beah's narrative?
Signup and view all the answers
At what age did Ishmael Beah immigrate to New York City?
At what age did Ishmael Beah immigrate to New York City?
Signup and view all the answers
What realization did Ishmael Beah have upon recalling his past in Sierra Leone?
What realization did Ishmael Beah have upon recalling his past in Sierra Leone?
Signup and view all the answers
Which event directly preceded Ishmael Beah arriving in New York City?
Which event directly preceded Ishmael Beah arriving in New York City?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Unusual Normality - Ishmael Beah
- Ishmael Beah, a New York Times best-selling author, was born in Sierra Leone.
- In 1998, at age 17, he arrived in New York City with just a passport.
- His checked baggage from Ivory Coast did not arrive.
- This contained two pairs of pants, two shirts, and other personal possessions.
- He met his adoptive mother at the airport, and they laughed about the lost baggage.
- They then went to Kmart, and later ate Chinese food.
- He considered this a "fresh new start."
- At age eleven, war broke out in Sierra Leone, and at twelve, he became an orphan.
- At thirteen, he joined the war as a soldier.
- At age sixteen, he was removed from the war and underwent rehabilitation.
- He came to the US to live with his mother.
- He faced issues when trying to enroll in schools in New York City.
- He was denied entry to some schools because he did not have report cards.
- The schools deemed unusual his lack of academic records during the war.
- He wrote an essay titled "Why I Do Not Have a Report Card."
- His essay, along with other assessments, allowed him entry to a UN school.
- He adjusted to New York's high school culture, but his experiences stood out.
- His classmates expressed surprise at his demeanor and behavior.
- He often avoided speaking with them about his military past, though he did participate in some recreational activities.
- He learned to "fit in" with a group of peers, playing sports, and participating in the youth activities.
- He gained a newfound understanding that the concept of violence was different from his experiences.
- His new friends had never experienced the real war, viewing violence as a thing to "glorify."
- His friends' perceptions of war were different from his.
- The story highlights the author's struggles to adapt to a new life in a new country.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the remarkable journey of Ishmael Beah, a New York Times best-selling author born in Sierra Leone. This quiz delves into his experiences of war, loss, and a fresh start in the US. Test your knowledge about his life and the challenges he faced while adapting to a new country.
