Culture+Diffs.



=**Chapter 1.**=


 * __Morgan:__** In the second paragraph they talk about the fields. it basically says that if man takes care of the field and doesn't do anything wrong to harm it, then the man will be okai. on the other hand, if you do something wrong that will upset the fields, then in return the field will harm the man. if the man doesn't take care of the field and tend to it's needs, it won't grow crops, therefore the village won't have food. so i think that this village completely depends on this field for survival.
 * __Sam:__** To these people in the village the land is treated as a holy creature. They take care of it and in return believe that it will protect and help the people of the village. They believe the old valley that is torn up, not takin care of is because to many people have left, that when it rains it is blood rather than water.
 * __Amanda:__** The way the hills is described is very quiet, calm, and a very nice enviroment. The sound and looks of nature. Mountains, and hills.Basically, take care of the fields, and or treat it like crap. so if you don't mess with it, then nothing bad will happen to it.

=**Chapter 2.**=


 * __Morgan:__** "umfundisi" is what they call their Reverand. it's used as a sign of respect. it sounds to me that the umfundisi has a very nice life style. he has a nice house and has loads of books; while the rest of the village is barely getting by.

it ws kinda akward how they took so long to debate weather or not to open the letter. apparently they don't get too many letters in the mail. maybe because they are so far away from any other civilization. the letter was from another pastor in a distant village. telling him that his sister was sick in Johannesburg.

this really doesn't have anything to do with cultural differences, but how to say the name of the pator in johannesburg? Theophilus Msimangu...?

it sounds like in their village, the pastor's wife is called "mother". which is understandable. when the little girl came in, "mother" feed her a snack or meal...

the little girl is very timid when she's entering and exiting the pastor's house. she's very careful not to disrupt anything in his house. that's a sign of respect.

the pastor isn't really crazy about going to johannesburg. "once you go to johannesburg, you never come back." i think he's affraid if he goes, he won't want to come back. their only son, Zulus went away to johannesburg, instead of going away to St. Chad's. it seems to me that he doesn't want to go see his sister because she moved so far away and doesn't write anymore, and he's not going to be revengeful. he's upset because his sister, brother, and only son went off to johannesburg and don't keep in touch. maybe he's jelous that they all got to go, and he's the one who got stuck staying at home.

the pastor and his wife have a semi-evolved relationship. the wife is allowed to talk with him, and show feeling infront of him without being beaten, but she also knows when to be obediant. and he knows when to be caring. he was saving the all the money they had for a new stove and clothes for his wife.

this was a really long chapter.
 * __Amanda:__** Used to going to church. The child depends on ohter people besides family for food. kumalo doesn't sound very pleased about going to johannesburg, because he says when people go to johannesburg, they do not come back. But since they had money saeved for an occassion like this, they mighht as wee not waste it. another reason he is upset is because once his family members leave to johannesburg, none of them write to them, or come back.


 * __Sam:__**

=**Chapter 3.**=

__**Morgan:**__ i think the begining of this chapter would make more sence if i had a map infront of me so i could see where exactly they are.

johannesburg sounds like san fransico. catching the train in the book is like catching a trolly. it sounds like the pastor is leaving a poor run down village and going to a big city where people where shoes everywhere and work and have hospitals..... why is he upset about that? in johannesburg they have have cars.

in their time, men don't travel in primitive dress anymore, only the women do that. and even thought they didn't know the pastor was and unfundisi, they noticed his clerical colar and made room for him to sit. and like any good pastor, he ended the chapther by pulling out his pocket Bible and reading from it.


 * __Sam:__** Its practically the same as what morgan said. I believe that to him catching to train was something he didn't do very often, but to many of the people on the train it was a regular thing. As he steps on the train he sees that many of people of his race are dressed european style with garments of different types. That is not very different from the men in his village for they dress semi-normal, while its mainly the women who still dress primative when they travel.


 * __Amanda:__** Every one knows everyone in their town. They are not used to the streets. They call it "danger". Everyone on the train dressed very differently than he. Seemed more city like.

=**Chapter 4.**=

__**Sam:**__ During this chapter Reverend Kumalo finally makes his way to Johannesburg. Although to the people in this city everything is normal and an everyday affair. To the reverend everything is completly new, he is used to living in a small town where the women still wear primative clothes.

As he steps out of the train he see's these weird tunnels where people are crowed into coming and leaving them. When he finally makes his way to the streets, he goes to cross the streets and remembers what one of his town members told him. In his old town he did not have to worry about cars running him over and tons of people everywhere.

He finally makes his way through town because( to him a nice guy) came and said he would help him get to the bus station. So they head to the bus station, where the guy says that he would go buy him a ticket, but the guy takes his money and runs away with it.

Thats where he meets a Mr.Mafolo, he was headed to the same place. Thats when Mr.Mafolo tells him that you buy the ticket on the bus and that the guy would not be returning with his money. That is something that doesn't happen in is home, people do as they say and don't really lie to someone of his stature.

So they finally get on the bus to head to Sophiatown, where he was told to meet at the mission house of his church. When they finally arrive a Mr.Theophilus Msimangu greets them and welcomes them into the mission house.


 * __Amanda:__** Now that Kumalo is in johannesburg, he sees how differently everyone is. You can't trust everyone is the city. In his town, that is not a problem, because everyone keeps their word.

undindisi is on the bus and gets told about all the gold mines by a man who is very excited to be talking to him as well as respectful. when he got off the bus he thought he found someone else who also respected him, but he soon found out that he is a SUCKA! he should have known that being in a big city like that he shouldn't have trusted everyone he came across. then he got to this mission house where he found out that he would be going to look for his family.
 * __Morgan:__**

=**Chapter 5.**=

__**Sam:**__ The Reverend and the other guest of the house sit down to eat at the beginning of this chapter. During this time the reverend and a young rosy-cheeked priest get to talking about the past. Mr.Kumalo learns that the rosy-cheeked priest used to live in the same town as he did and still has some family living there. During this time period white men did not interact with the African Americans, they believed that in doing so would some how harm them or there families. Also the lady Mr.Kumalo is staying with shows him respect by calling him Umfundisi.


 * __Amanda:__** kumalo finds out that the priest used to live in the same town as he did, and has some family liveing there.In johannesburg, people are more likely to smoke. But kumalo refuses.He is deffinatly not used to sooooo many people!

__**Morgan:**__

=**Chapter 6.**=


 * __Amanda:__** Kumalo does not understand his surroundings while traveling to Johannesburg. He hears people speaking Afrikaans, whish is a dutch based language spoken by the original immigrants, and is not very familiar with it. The village life is very different to him. On the train, Kumalo meets a man named Mr. Mafolo. Even though their colors are different, they still agree to sit next to each other.

Sam:__** Mr. Kumalo and Msimangu head to out to find Mr. Kumalos sister. When he finally sees her he realizes that she is dressed way down to what the women wear in there village. She is wearing raggy clothes, ones that barely give her any respect. Along with her wearing those clothes her son is also wearing raggy clothes ones that would be a disgrace to there culture at home. Mr. Kumalo also realizes the way of living for his sister and that of his nephew. Back home at the village she would be a respectable women well dressed with a husband instead of being a prostitute and drug dealer.
 * __Morgan:


 * Chapter 7.**

He told John he found Gertrude and asks about Absalom. John says he does not know where either Absalom or where his son is, then remembers that they were working in a textile factory in Alexandra. The two priests find Mrs. Ndlela, and tells them that Absalom has moved to Alexandra. After Kumalo steps outside, Msimangu asks Mrs. Ndlela why she seems so sorry for Kumalo, and she tells him that both she and her husband felt that Absalom had bad company.
 * __Amanda:__**


 * __Morgan:__**


 * __Sam:__**Mr. Kumalo satisfied at finding his sister and helping her return to the way of life before she moved here with her young son. He buys her a nice dress, like they wear back in the village, and he also buys his nephew some new clothes with what little money he does have. Now that he has found them him and Msimangu head out to go find his brother, who is now a major person in the city where he lives. While they are there he learns that his brother has given up church and god. His beliefs have changed since he moved there, he has learned that the chief of his village is just and old and ignorant person. He also learns that his brothers wife has left him and that he is with a women that would not be acceptable by there church.


 * Chapter 8.**


 * __Amanda:__** Msimangu says that in Alexandra, blacks are allowed to own property, but that has so much crime that its whites have petitioned it. He tells Kumalo stories of whites being attacked and killed. Absalom and John’s son often came home very late at night with all kinds of money, food, watches, and clothes.
 * __Morgan: __**

Mr. Kumalo and Msimangu head to Alexandra to find Kumalos son and his nephew. When they make it to the bus stop they are stopped by a Mr. Dubula where they are reminded of the boycott of the buses till the charge goes back down to 4 pence instead of 6 pence. So they head off to walk and on there way they remember that not all white men are against them, when one stops them and ask them if they would like a ride. Its kind of like in his village where when one is in trouble or needs help another member of the village comes to help them. When they finally get to Alexandra they realize how much different it is from everything else, it is run down and completely poor compared to Johannesburg and to his village. While there they find the one of the places where his son was, but they soon find out that he has gone. They realize that his son was not of good nature that he has been doing bad things around there. In his village his son was nice and held to a certain respect.
 * __Sam:__**


 * Chapter 9.**


 * __Amanda:__** Alot of people are moving in the housed in Johannesburg. People are most likely to steal anything they lay thier hands on.


 * __Morgan:

Sam:__**During this chapter they just show you how hard it is for a family to find a place to live in Johannesburg. Most people have moved there from there village where they had homes that just had there family and not four other families. Also to the people who rent out there rooms have to worry about things like: another man stealing his wife, another women stealing a husband, or the same with there kids. Also Shanty town is put up in one night because there are not enough houses for everyone and they are promised that if they put up those houses that the people will come and build them houses. Compared to where Mr.Kumalos village it is horrible, they live in houses put together buy poles and metal tops.


 * Chapter 10.**


 * __Amanda:

Sam:__**Kumalo and msimangu head to shanty town to yet another home where they have been told his son might be. They learnt that his son has been sent to the reformatory to be set straight, unlike where they are from most kids never go bad. While at the reformatory they learn that Absalom has a pregnant girlfriend, so he has been let go. To kumalo this is not good because in there culture they marry before having children and his son has not done that. Also they worry that he might have more children.


 * __Morgan:__**


 * Chapter 11.**


 * __Amanda:__** News Articles are a big deal just like anywhere else. They are very popular, lots of crimes, murders.


 * __Sam:__**Yet another set back has happened because of a murder of a well known white engineer who was a well known crusader for the rights of black South Africans. With this Kumalo realizes that he knows this man from his village, he remembers watching him run around as a child. Then he comes to think the worst because he thinks that his son might have something to do with it. Although that there’s a rare chance that it could be him they think the worst. At home in his village, he would be asked to leave if a family member kills another village member, so he is afraid. Unlike in Johannesburg where the family of the accused is left alone for the most part, in his village the family is asked to leave.


 * __Morgan.__**


 * Chapter 12.**


 * __Amanda:__**


 * Sam:**Speakers argue in this chapter about what to do with all the crimes whether to educate them more or for more segregation. In kumalos village there were no debates on whether to be more segregated or for more education; everything was just done when it needed to be.
 * Morgan:**


 * Chapter 13.**


 * Sam:**Kumalo and Msimangu head out to Ezenzeleni to help a colony where white South Africans help the blind <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">While Msimangu leads a sermon Kumalo takes this time to reflect on what has happened and to hope that things get better. He realizes that he is having a grandchild out of wedlock which is completely not what the village calls for. He also reflects on what has happened to the village, on how much it has changed from when he was growing up.
 * Chapter 14:**


 * Sam:** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Kumalos worst fears are finally proved that his worries are right. His son was found and is being held for the murder of Arthur Jarvis. Also that his nephew is also being held there because he is said to be with Absalom during the break-in and murder, so he has to go tell his brother the bad news. With this they head to the jail with the young guy from the reformatory and get to finally see his son. When they talk Absalom cannot look his father in the eyes, which back in his village is a sign of respect. Kumalo finally asks his son why he did this horrible thing and all he could summon to say is that is was the devil. Although he says this, to kumalos liking he says that he still wants to marry his girlfriend, which allows him to not have a grandchild out of wedlock.
 * Chapter 15:

Sam:** after everything that has happened the young man from the reformatory returns to apologize for what he said, and tells him that he needs to get a lawyer. With that Father Vincent tells them that he has a lawyer in mind. While kumalo is happy with the news that his friend can get him a lawyer he is in despair that his wife and he didn’t know what was going on until it was too late. Father Vincent tells him “that at least his sorrow has replaced his fears.” With that said to him Father Vincent tells him that he needs to remember what his religion taught him about keeping his faith that it will help his true faith return.


 * Chapter 16:

Sam:**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">After finding out what has happened to his son, Kumalo heads to Pimville to tell Absaloms girlfriend what has happened. When he finishes telling her what has happened he wonders if she still wishes to marry his son. Although she says yes, he still asks her if she wishes to move back to the village and live with him and his wife as their daughter.
 * Chapter 17:

Sam:** Kumalo visits Absalom in jail to tell him that they have found a lawyer that will represent him but that his friends are denying that they were with him during the fiasco. After a short time kumalo finally convinces Absalom that his friends are not true friends. Unlike in the village where you take the blame for anything you had to do with his friends are completely denying him. Once that is done he tells Absalom that he has made arrangements for his girlfriend and him to get married, he is pleased. Then they meet there lawyer, Mr. Carmichael, who assures them that his best defense is nothing but the truth and that he will need to talk to kumalo about his son. He says that if they are going to have the best chance that he will need to know the most about his son’s characteristics.


 * Chapter 18:

Sam:**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Finally they take you back to the village where James Jarvis lives, father of Arthur Jarvis. They retell you of the beautiful hills and the peaceful way of life, just now they are having problems. None of the villagers know how to farm and with that the land has gone dry and bad, the only hope is rain and for them to learn. Unlike in the main city where people know how to grow crops or just go and but them, the villagers were never taught the right way to farm the land and make the best use out of it.
 * Chapter 19:

Sam:** After Mr. Jarvis’s and his wife fly to Johannesburg, they meet there son’s wife and his in-laws. They learn what his son was fighting for and that many people are very sorry for the loss and that a great man was lost during such a miserable fight. Like in there village people Mourn over a person lost, its just not exactly to the extent of the big city.


 * Chapter 20:

Sam:** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Mr. Jarvis learns of his son’s struggles to get black South Africans more rights. He is moved that his son was working on keeping miners and there families together instead of splitting them up. He also notices that his son was also working on convincing them that if they take them away from a tribal setting that they should have something set up for them in the city to have something like home. He says that it would also help to keep the crime rates down, which is what, is taught in a tribal setting that crimes are not wanted.


 * Chapter 21:

Sam:** At Arthur Jarvis’s funeral his mother and father sit in church with black and white South Africans. Which I think is a little weird because he lives in a village where there are black people and a church were the head person is black. So I thought he would have sat in church with both before. His son’s father in law is so enraged with what has happened that he can’t wait to take revenge on who did this, but Mr. Jarvis’s good nature he tells them that it is not something to think about right now. After the funeral Mr. Jarvis learns that the person responsible for the death of his son was a young man that use to tend to his garden. During this time Mr. Jarvis goes to his son’s house where he finds an article that moves him so much. In this article his son argues that anyone that thinks black people shouldn’t be taught are non-Christians’, that everybody should have some sort of education.


 * Chapter 22:

Sam:** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">The trial begins and Absalom pleas guilty but his two friends plead not guilty, and say they have nothing to do with the murder. He says that the whole thing was planned out by one of his friends and that he only fired out of being scared. Absalom tells the judge that his friend claims that the metal bar used to hit the servant was supposedly blessed. Then I think the judge was being a smart ally asks “if his father would bless such a thing?” With that question I believe his father would not bless such a thing because in there village such a thing is not used as a weapon and would therefore not be blessed.
 * Chapter 23:

Sam:** This chapter focuses mainly on the gold that has been found and that there is talk of a second Johannesburg. Many think that this is a good thing while most people believe that other things are more important. Some say that some of the money should be given to the miners and there families. They say that the families shouldn’t be split up that they should live together. Other people say that the money should go to pay for higher wages for the miners and then for subsidizing social services. Like in the village where Kumalo is from, some people say that money isn’t everything.


 * Chapter 24:

Sam:** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">During this chapter Jarvis learns that his son wrote about how he was raised back in the village. He says he grew up with honor, charity, and generosity taught to him but the only thing that was not taught to him was about the big city. Although he is very mad about this he continues to read and learns of all the plans his son had and what he wanted to do. He realizes that even though his son is not there now that he raised him very very good. That the things instilled upon him back home were what helped him excel in the world he lived in
 * Chapter 25:

Sam:**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Mr. Kumalo, dressed in scattered clothes goes to the house where Jarvis and his wife are staying to find a young lady. I believe he is dressed like that to hide who he really is but it ultimately doesn’t work. Jarvis figures out that this man is from his village. With this figured out they go back and remember when Arthur was a young boy and all the things he did.


 * Chapter 26:

Sam:** John Kumalo with his heavy voice addresses a group to tell them about the gold and how he believes it should be used. Although many think there will be a strike, he believes that a strike will not do anything for the good of anyone. In this country finding gold is a big deal because it gives the country more money to use when they want to and on what they need to. Many people in this book say it should be used for the miners for higher wages and then to keep the families together. That is a big deal because over there the men leave there family to go and mine and to earn money for them. That to keep them together would be such a culture shock to all of them.


 * Chapter 27:

Sam:** Yet another murder by a native has happened. With this news it could seriously hurt Absaloms case and that it will hurt Kumalo. They say these outrages from the natives is from taking them from there village and putting them in a setting that there not use to and then making them work for little to nothing. Gertrude, Kumalos sister, who laughs and acts as if she still lives on the street, is getting in trouble by the lady allowing her to live in her house. She seems to have forgotten the rules put upon her when she lived in the village. When a young lady grows up in the village she is taught to be a lady and do what she is told, most possibly, if she acted like this in the village she would have gotten in lots of trouble. At the end of this chapter Gertrude starts to think about becoming a nun to help clean up her life.


 * Chapter 28:

Sam:** The verdict is finally given to Absalom, Guilty, he is sentenced to hang. Going from a small village where there were no actual set laws or rules, to a huge city where there are tons of people, where anything could happen. I think that they could blame that on why so many natives start getting into trouble. They leave a place where there would be no reason to kill someone and go to a place where people could give you every reason to hurt someone.


 * Chapter 29:

Sam:** Finally Absalom is married to his girlfriend before he is to be hung. With this being done it will not bring much shame to Kumalo and his family, because I think that if you have a child out of wedlock in there village you are kind of an outcast. When it comes time to head back to the village Kumalo learns that Msimangu will retire to become a monk. Which could be a good thing back in there village but I’m not quite sure. With him becoming a monk he hands over all his money to Kumalo, 33 pounds. With this done I believe it is showing the type of care people show back home and that he would be cherished for what he has done.


 * Chapter 30:

Sam:**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">: Finally they head back home, Kumalo, Gertrude’s son, and Absaloms girlfriend. The village gives them a very warm welcoming and they accept the two new comers, unlike what a bug city would be like. Although the news has reached the village many people say not to worry because it is not him who caused the pain.
 * Chapter 31:

Sam:** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Now back in the village you can see all the cultural differences than in the big city. The school headmaster teaches about farming in more of an educational way than in a practical way that the students can put to use in the village, just like if they were to teach it in the big city.


 * Chapter 32:

Sam:** While in prison Absalom writes home to tell his family that he understands now what he has done and that he must die. Although he has done these things he has realized that all this time he has belonged back in the village where he grew up and with the family that loves him very deeply. The big city has changed his beliefs and I believe that is why he has done what he has done. Another cultural difference form the big city to the small village is the amount of water they have. While the city practically can have as much water as possible the village is struggling with a water drought.


 * Chapter 33:

Sam**: <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">A person is hired to teach the village more important things about farming. It is more important to farm for the village and that is a problem in the village. Everyone thinks that they should just farm for them selves, so the guy has come to show them that they must work together to make there village a better one.

**page 2, cult. dif A-4**