The Diving Bell and the Butter Fly #2

1. In Bathtime, I think Bauby's statement about how clothes represent life, and proof that he still wants to be himself, and "If I must drool, I may as well drool on cashmere,"shows that even though he trapped in his own mind, he still has a life, is still himself, and if he must be "locked-in,"  at least he'll look somewhat like himself before his "accident."

2. I think that the fact that Bauby spoke French, instead of Japanese or Chinese, mattered a great deal in the writing of his book. There are so many more characters and letters in Asian languages, that I think Bauby would have had a much harder time communicating his thoughts and ideas. Also, because of the amount of characters I think that what Bauby would have been able to communicate might have been lost in translation. Even Bauby writing in French, and us reading it in English, some things maybe lost, like maybe the tone or language Bauby was using could be convey stronger in his native language.

3. Bauby finds his appearance humorous because "Not only was I exiled, paralyzed, mute, half deaf, deprived of all pleasures, and reduced to the existence of a jellyfish, but I was also horrible to behold. There comes a time when the heaping of calamities brings on uncontrollable nervous laughter--when, after a final blow from fate, we decide to treat it all as a joke."

4. After reading Cinecitta, if there was one place I could visit for an afternoon, because it was my last opportunity, I would go to New York City. I chose NYC because I have never been. I would love to go there to see the city, the people, all the tourist parts, but also the real part, the not so beautiful part. I'd go see a play on Broadway, go to a museum of Art and look at all the beautiful masterpieces, maybe do some drawings on my own, of the artworks there, or paintings, trying to mimic their style. I would go shopping in stores, both expensive and inexpensive. I would go to NYC for the experience of going to the big city. Plus I've already been to London and Paris. 

5. After reading Tourists, I think we don't make more of an effort to connect with those who might look or act differently from us because they have a different life path then us, they might not understand us, they might fear us, we might fear them, we might not understand them, that it might be impossible to fully connect with those who act or look differently from us. Because we're not connected by the way we look or the way we act, we live in different environments, which lead us down different life paths, to the lives we lead or want to lead, which makes it harder for us to understand each other.

6. After reading Sausage, if there was one meal I would miss the most it is my dad's shepherd's pie. It has my favorite combination of food: corn, mashed potatoes, and beef, with some herbs and spices mixed in. Everything about it is so fulfilling. The creamy mashed potatoes with some paprika on top, the sweet-and- salty corn, and the protein enriched beef seasoned with unknown herbs and spices, it come together to create the perfect, hearty, home-cooked meal.