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Lizhi's mother is apprehensive about her reception by Michael's family

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Lizhi's mother is apprehensive about her reception by Michael's family

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Michael has a troubled relationship?? with Singapore? Or his family?

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Michael has a troubled relationship?? with Singapore? Or his family?

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Observe: I observed that Aunt Mona was the one who helped to get Lizhi's father married off to her mother. She probably was a good and understanding person.

Notice: However, I noticed that Aunt Mona did not seem very welcoming and sounded cold towards Lizhi.

Wonder: I wonder what had happened for Aunt Mona to behave this way? Was this due to Lizhi's father's death?

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O: It is similar to Report Card Days Stellar reader, just a bit more detailed.
N: Lizhi is quite an independent girl, who is observant and cognizant of her surroundings. She empathises with people.
W:

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Observe: I observe that Lizhi had never attended school regularly. The idea of having the same friends to play with every day, for weeks and months and perhaps even years, appealed to her tremendously.

Notice: This contradicts with what most children did.

Wonder: I wonder why Lizhi didn't attend school regularly. Was she homeschooled? Are her parents unconventional? I wonder if Lizhi's mother would go through with the plans she had made with her husband (e.g. to let Lizhi go to school) now that he is no longer around.

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Observe: I observe that Lizhi was delighted at the sight of of a garden full of trees, while her mother did not share the same excitement.

Notice: I think Lizhi was probably raised in an environment where trees and greenery were abundant, while her mother was not.

Wonder: I wonder what are Lizhi's thoughts on Singapore being a garden city, where greenery is integrated into its urban landscape.

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Observe: I observe that Juliette and Michael were different when it came to keeping promises. Juliette considered them loose ends that needed to be tied up while Michael meant his promises but did not always keep them promptly.
Notice: Juliette seems more serious while Michael comes across as free-spirited. This is consistent with the idiom 'opposites attract'. Juliette's beliefs seem tied to her art i.e. a loose thread could make everything unravel, and she judged Michael's art to be reflective of his beliefs i.e. only concerned with what was on the surface.
Wonder: I wonder if this was a fair assessment of Michael because he seemed like a deeper character, ultimately still keeping his promises and believing that 'what lies beneath will always be there'.

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Observe : Grandpa wrote letters to his son
Notice : Grandpa was either racist and he didn't approve of the marriage or he didn't approve of son becoming an artist
Wonder : when did he start writing the letters to his son and why ? Did he have a change of heart

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Observe: I observe that Lizhi got to know that her grandparents weren't happy that her father didn't become a doctor or lawyer.

Notice: It seems to me that they got the impression of being unwelcomed based on their heritage and preconceived notions.

Wonder: I wonder if there has been some sort of written or verbal communication between Michael and his parents. Regardless of the severity of animosity, there still exists some sort of kinship regardless.

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Observe: I observe that Lizhi's father had fond memories of his childhood as he shared stories about his growing up years in Singapore all his life until his death. He was able to describe the house he lived in, the garden and his exciting adventures on the boat.
Notice: Despite those fond memories, he seems apprehensive about returning home to visit his family in Singapore.
Wonder: I wonder if something had happened that resulted in his delay to return to Singapore, though he mentioned about his intention to do so more than once.

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Observe: Lizhi's mother said that it was about time that Lizhi met her Singaporean family
Notice: However, Lizhi could tell from Juliette's voice that she was not looking forward to the meeting.
Wonder: If Juliette was dreading the meeting, why did she go ahead with it? How would Lizhi feel about meeting her Singaporean family since her own mother seems reluctant to do so?

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Chapter 2:
Observe: Lizhi was a curious child who always wanted to know more about Singapore and his father takes the opportunity to share more.

Notice: Michael seemed to miss Singapore.

Wonder: Did Michael resent his parents for forcing them to this situation?

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Chapter 1:
Observe: Aunt Mona seemed to be a nice lady. She helped Lizhi’s father get away to marry the mother.

Notice: Aunt Mano did not open the gate to welcome them.

Wonder: I wonder their relationship. Has it gone sour over the years? Did Aunt Mano blame Lizhi’s mother for her brother’s death?

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Observe:

I observe that ‘a figure was standing at the top of the steps, watching them.’ – Chapter 3, page 21.

Notice:

As we approach the end of the book, I notice that the ‘figure’ was supposed to be Lizhi’s grandfather, or whom she named as ‘the gardener’ initially.

Wonder:

I wonder why Lizhi’s grandfather did not approach Lizhi and her mother to acknowledge them during their arrival, since it was mentioned in the book that he had wanted to. Why did Aunt Mona have the ‘power’ to stop the reunion? Why did Lizhi's grandfather (Aunt Mona's father) allow Aunt Mono to do what she wanted?

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O: Lizhi and her mother attended her father's funeral.
N: Since Lizhi had not met her father's family, I supposed they did not attend his funeral.
W: I wonder if his family is aware of his passing. Could Lizhi's mother think that his family is going to blame her for his passing and so she did not intend to stay in Singapore with Lizhi for long. Since Lizhi and her mother had been travelling due to Lizhi's father's work, I believe Lizhi's mother could stay in Singapore for a while too as she did not have a fixed desk job that she had to return to.

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O: When Lizhi just arrived in Singapore airport, she commented that Singapore was much colder than France. However, her mother laughed it off and said that the outside was much much warmer.
N: I think Lizhi's mother had probably visited Singapore before Lizhi was born. Maybe when the parents were still dating or just got married. However, Lizhi's mother could not recognise the house that the taxi driver brought them to.
W: I wonder if Lizhi's mother had met her husband's family in Singapore before. If she did, I guess she probably did not have a good experience as she seemed anxious when someone from the house approached the gate.

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Chapter 2.

O: I observed that Lizhi’s grandparents were unhappy with Juliette.

N: Michael’s grandparents were unhappy either because Michael married a French lady or because he married Juliette who encouraged him to become an artist against the grandparents wishes.

W: I wonder which was a greater motivation for Lizhi’s grandparents' dislike of Juliette - Juliette's race or way of thinking?

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Chapter 1

O: I observe that Lizhi’s mother was collected and confident of herself ofwhat she was doing. For instance she smiled and said “I think you deserve a little holiday”.

N: This seems contradictory to the fact that when she was going to leave Lizhi behind with Aunt Mona she seemed unsure and worried.

W: I wonder why Lizhi’s mother became insecure when Mona came towards the gate?

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Observe: Li Zhi's Dad had fond memories of Singapore. He told her a lot of stories but he could not answer her directly when she asked if he liked Singapore.
Notice: If he had such fond memories, he would surely like the place and would like to return unless something terrible happened in the past. Her dad's parents were not happy with them getting married. Surely there is more to this then stated.
Wonder: What did her father do to try to keep in touch? What transposed between both parties that lead to their not meeting their grand daughter before?

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Observe : Li Zhi's mum was keeping her promise to bring her to meet her dad's family even if they did not want to see her (Li Zhi's mum). She was leaving her and returning in a few days. She also stated that Li Zhi would go to a regular school soon.
Notice : Li Zhi's mum was leaving her there and heading back to the airport. Li Zhi's father said that she would got to school when they decided on a place to settle down.
Wonder : Was her mother abandoning her and leaving her to school in Singapore with her relatives? Did her mother promise to return?

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Chap 1
O:I observe that Lizhi's mother stressed on passing exam would enable Lizhi to fit in the job and do the work.
N:This view seems rather simplistic as being able to do a job is not simply due to passing exams.
W:I wonder why Lizhi's mother would think that way and if she was speaking from her own experience.

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Observe: If Lizhi's mother made a promise she kept her word. It had been different with Michael Wang. Even though he had the best intentions he had always been absentminded and forgetful, especially while painting. And even if he often forgot things, he had always kept his promises too.
Notice: Michael Wang is an interesting character. Though an absentminded person, Michael Wang is still able to keep promises. He is one who does not let superficial, minor or unimportant matters cloud his mind and lose his judgement. Nothing seemingly unimportant escapes his senses. He is probably one who is sensitively empathetic as he says 'Even if you don't see it - the texture, the foundations are there.'  What lies beneath and unnoticed; to him could not be covered or hidden away even with more paint.
Wonder: Michael Wang being thoughtful and empathetic, would that put him in a great struggle when he decided to be a painter and not follow his father's footsteps? He travels round the world to paint and when he becomes a skilled and famous artist, what has been stopping him to bring his family back to Singapore to see his father? "Lizhi saw her father look at her mother before answering." I wonder if Juliette has the answer.

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Chapter 2:

Observe: I observe that Lizhi's mother was someone who did what she had promised and she would fulfil her promise promptly unlike Lizhi's father.

Notice: However, I noticed that Lizhi's mother was not prompt in fulfilling her promise of bringing Lizhi to visit Lizhi's father's family, as she only did so after one year of Lizhi's father's passing.

Wonder: Why did it take Lizhi's mother so long to fulfil her promise? Was the family aware that Lizhi's father had died?

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Chapter 1

Observe: I observe that it was Aunt Mona who helped Lizhi's father to get away to marry Lizhi's mother.

Notice: This gives off the impression that Aunt Mona was supportive of the marriage and she was on good terms with Lizhi's parents. However, towards the end of the first chapter, we read that Lizhi's mother was not looking forward to meeting Aunt Mona.

Wonder: I wonder if the passing of Lizhi's father had put a strain on the relationship between Aunt Mona and Lizhi's mother? Could Aunt Mona be blaming Lizhi's mother for her brother's death?

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Observe: Jeremiah (who was a great friend of Lizhi's father, Michael) said that the shock of losing Michael was greater than the loss.
Notice: He also said that they had to survive the shock first and that because the loss would be theirs forever, they would have a lifetime to deal with it.
Wonder: How long would it take for both Lizhi and her mother to reconcile themselves to the sudden loss of a husband and a father?

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Observe: Lizhi's father believed that as long as she could learn to read and write, that's all she needed to know. Hence she was home-schooled as they were on the move all the time.
Notice: However her mother felt that Lizhi needed to learn how to interact with others and passing exams by going to school.
Wonder: Lizhi was thrilled at the idea of going to school and having the same friends to play with everyday. Would 10-year old Lizhi adapt well to the change when she started going to school? Would it turn out the way she imagined it?

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Observe: Lizhi tried not to think about her father; she still cried when she thought about  him.
Notice: Despite her sadness, she replayed memories of her father as she did not want to forget about him. Seems like she was still working through her loss and experiencing a range of emotions and conflicting thoughts.
Wonder: How did she fall asleep thinking about her dad? Would that have made her sadder? Or did the constant recollections help her to overcome her loss, desensitize the grief.

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Observe: I observe that Lizhi's father recognises that first impressions are important and yet does not  care about his dressing.
Notice: This seems contradictory .to what I am used to since we are told that we need to present a neat appearance when we wear uniforms.
Wonder: I wonder what kind of man her father is since his thinking does not follow conventional logic.