GUAIA Homework

What message or purpose does the author have in writing this story?
The author isn't against Australia, however she is conveying the message that she feels left out. She is constantly asked where she was from, even though she was born in Australia. In the end when she visits China, she describes how she feels at home without even speaking the language. Supposedly this is a bigger barrier than appearances however she is saying that because of her look difference, she is automatically being judged. 

what Journey is the protagonist on? Explain with examples?
She is on a journey on being accepted and finding home. She begins by acknowledging that the representations that the Australian society want to see of her is her "worst nightmare: the cutesy, Hello Kitty-loving Asian manga-girl". It is also through her grandfathers death where she becomes more interested in Chinese history. By learning about her grandfathers Australian migrant journey and how he slowly became Australian, including his skin turning white and his eyes a milky blue. From there, she explains how she is asked and asked if she is asian, in which she replies "no, I'm not", and how she "lives in perpetual fear that I'll [author] get caught out by a serial Asian fetish". She believes that people only are interested in her because she is asian. Her journey comes to an end when she visits china as she states "i felt at home". 

What are some of the obstacles she face on this journey?
She overcomes the obstacles of containing her rage as people assume that she is Asian. As she says; "I'm bringing with prejudices of my own.. I just roll my eyes". She is able to contain this dislike by choosing not to act on it, however these attitudes shown towards her frustrate her. 

How (techniques) has the author presented this to us?
Unlike the other stories in GUAIA, this story is a reflection. It is done in the current time which allows the author to convey her emotions as well and the events happening at the time. It gives the audience her interpretation of what is happening through her point of view. 


What values, attitudes and beliefs are being expressed? Use evidence from the text to support your discussion
VALUES: being accepted  (as shown as a constant idea throughout the text, her fustration when people stereotype her, to when she arrives in China and feels at home)
ATTITUDES:She is restrained "Naz looks like she might want to punch him; I just roll my eyes". 
BELIEFS: She believed that people shouldn't be stereotyped "