Rules of the Game

Part I

Cultural Differences

Chinese culture/values	American culture/values
Hierarchy	Individualism
Family	Self motivation
Success	Success
Hard work	Hard work
Luck	Little to no hierarchy (young can be above old)
Honor	Breaking through agreed upon limits/norms
Obedience	Pride
Modesty (external)
Pride (internal)

Cultural differences in the story

Chinese	American
Older = wiser	Time = money. Fast pace.
Processes have value.	Endless possibilities - personal ambition - Waverly, a young girl in an immigrant family, can become a chess champion.
Social values are above personal desires.
Strict discipline - Waverly's mother ignores her because she is obedient.

Homework - book p. 48

1. The story is set in Chinatown in San Francisco (at the 20th century - 1950s).
2. The narrator is Waverly Place Jong (Meimei), a 6 y/o girl who's mother is an immigrant from China.
3. The mentioned members of the narrator's family are her mother, her father and her brothers (Vincent and Winston).
4. Some available food: salted plums, soup full of mysterious things, fried sesame balls, dim sum, pastries, chicken crescents, roasted watermelon seeds and different kinds of fish (turtles, crabs and more).
5. The art of invisible strength means one's ability to hide their inner strength and only use it when necessary, without showing their thoughts or feelings.

Part II

Waverly's characteristics

• Waverly is smart - analytical, able to make connections.
• Waverly understands that things are not always as they seem.
• Waverly is observant. She pays attention to details.
• Waverly wants the best.
• Waverly knows how to be manipulative.

Class work

Brainstorming

Waverly - Waverly is a smart but hurt girl. She is very intelligent considering her age, and she is trying to show it in different ways. Yet, Waverly is always trying to please her mother, who is never satisfied with anything she does. As a result, Waverly is very vulnerable to her mother and never sees herself as a success.

Waverly's mother - Waverly's mother is an immigrant from China. She is full of wisdom, and she's trying to pass that on to her children. To help Waverly succeed, her mother pushes her to practice the "art of invisible strengths", be a proper Chinese woman, and excel at everything she does. She conceals herself inside a shell of anger, toughness and rigidity, and she never shows her feelings to anyone. As a result, she has a hard time communicating with others and her family, which hurts her even further.

Worksheet

Character 1	Both	Character 2
I am Waverly.	We are mother and daughter.	I am Waverly's mother.
I think that my mother is never satisfied with anything I do.	We are in disagreement about how Waverly should behave and live.	I think Waverly isn't motivated, and doesn't do her best on everything she does.
I hope mother will understand that I'm always trying to make her happy, and will be pleased with my achievements.	-	I hope Waverly will become successful and listen to my advice for once.
I like learning new things and playing around.	We both appreciate education and pursue it.	I like educating my children and best quality things.
I was born in the US and raised as an American Chinese.	We grew up in different places and environments, and as a result behave and act differently.	I was born in China and raised as traditional Chinese.
I try to please my parents and do everything the best I can.	We both strive to excel at everything we do.	I always give my best in everything I do.

Part IV

Main conflict

"I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everybody I'm your daughter."

Waverly:

• I'm embarrassed. What you're doing is humiliating.
• I'm uncomfortable that you are showing me off.
• You're an embarrassing parent.
• Stop using me.

Mrs. Jong:

• You don't want to be my daughter?!
• You are ashamed of you mother?
• Your behaviour to your mother is shameful.