Shelbie SparerMarch 23, 2011

Period 5Compare Contrast

Quote 1: Page 44 “What are you fifteen? That’s a good,

solid marrying age for a girl.”

In Afghanistan, this seems to be a good age to marry as in the United States, marriage usually occurs after the age of 18. This is a huge difference because some girls may not be mature enough, physically and emotionally. When these young women marry, they marry men around the age of forty-five which is unhealthy and when they die the become widowed.

Quote 2: Page 45 “ Six hundred and fifty kilometers.”

In Africa they use a different measuring system than in the United States. In America we use feet while in Afghanistan they use Kilometers. This could be a bad communication problem if America wants to build there and their workers do not know the metric system.

Quote 3: Page 63 The language is different because of the

region they are in.

There used words throughout the book like: “nang”, which means honor. “Namos”, pride. “Shaheed”, which means husbands, and “faiq” which means friend. In order to live her you must learn another language or several because there are three basic lanuages in Afghanistan.

Quote 4: Page 63 “Where I come from, a women’s face is

her husbands business only.”

It shows that the religion there is still rich and is very respected. It also shows that a women has no respect and is still something you can “own” that has no rights.

Quote 5: Page 63 “the women come uncovered, they talk

to me directly, look me in the eye without shame.”

They are saying that most people disrespect the fact that the women are not covered up and they think lowly of them for doing this and not following their religion. This also shows that women are breaking out and trying to get Women's Rights.

Quote 6: Page 117 “Pusthun kings ruled this country for

almost two hundred and fifty years, Laila, and Tajiks for all nine months, back in 1929.”

The British once ruled the Americans before the American Revolution which is alike in this book because they were once ruled by a King also.

Quotes 7: Page117 She saw Tariq’s mother too, wearing a

black scarf over the wig.”

They also wear black as a mourning sign which American also does. They share this color because it resembles sadness and loss of something

Quote 8: Page132 “Along the way, they passed mud houses

with thatched roofs and fields dotted with bundles of wheat.”

The houses they passes were made out of mud which we make our out of brick, wood, and dry wall. This also shows that they are not a very rich country and have less educated people there to build.

Quote 9:139 “I thought I’d come dressed for the

occasion.” Tariq said. He was wearing an enormous Russian fur hat, complete with earflaps, which he had pulled down.”

To them wearing an enormous Russian fur hat, complete with earflaps is a formal outfit but to the United States, it is a suit.

Quote 10: Page125“mourners removed their shoes at the door,

nodded at acquaintances as they crossed the room and sat on folding chairs arranged along the walls.”

A sign of respect towards the dead is to take of their shoes before they enter the room, where as Americans pray and bring flowers to mourn the dead.

Quote 11: Page 63 “They wear makeup and skirts that show

their knees.”

To Americans, wearing makeup and skirts is very common where as in their religion, they have to be covered from head to toe to get respect.

Quote 12: Page 103 “I know you’re still young, but I want you

to understand and learn this now, he said. Marriage can wait, education cannot.”

Many people in Afghanistan are wanting to break free of the religion, but there are few who show it. When Laila’s dad says this, he is realizing that in the future they might need more educated women then they do men because they are using the men for war.