Blog/Journal #2 - Amy Tan's story "Fish Cheeks"

    
    I thought Amy Tan's story was great because it pointed out a lot of her issues with being different and trying to fit in. I believe her purpose in writing "Fish Cheeks" was to demonstrate the her family's culture on what she grew up on and the other ways that some people would see it and feel out of touch with her way of living. When she looked back on the experience she realized that her mother was right about being proud of who she was and where she came from. Her family was accustomed to living a certain way and not all families live that way.
    Amy had a crush on Robert and wanted to liked by him, but when Robert and his family came over for Christmas dinner and saw what was being served for dinner, the way it was being serve, and the way Amy's family was acting during and after dinner, she felt that Robert wouldn't like her. Amy realized I kind of know how she felt although my experience was a little different.
    There was a few times where I was ashamed and embarrassed to be around my bosses and co-workers. I knew what kind of person I was and I loved my job, therefore, I tried to stand out by pleasing everyone. I used to go to company picnics, company functions, Christmas dinners, parties and anniversaries. I would always take my soon to be ex-husband with me and each time I did, he would do or say something to embarrass me. I felt so out of place and ashamed. My husband has a PTSD and sometimes it makes him act a certain way and when people see it, they think that he's on drugs. That would sometimes embarrass me. I'll never forget the time we were at a company picnic and he started jumping on top of one of the picnic tables trying to be funny and trying to make everyone laugh, but it wasn't funny to me. I could never enjoy myself when he were there with me or even in public. When he would show up at my job I went outside to talk to him because I didn't know what he was going to do or say if he came into the office. My boss' and co-workers would give me a certain look that wasn't good. I thought I would lose my job on a few occasions because of him, but lucky for me I had really nice boss'. I also felt like they were looking at me thinking to themselves or telling others that they don't know why I'm with this person.
    I new I had to do something in the end, although my husband does have a condition, I've always tried being there for him. I just knew that I couldn't take him with me to anymore company functions because I didn't want to feel ashamed or be embarrassed by him. That might sound a little mean but it was really hard for me to be out with him around other people. In conclusion, I do realize today that you can't help how people are or how they act, you just have to be there for them and support them the best way you can, especially if you choose to be with that person for better or worse.