Art and Leisure

Just recently I saw a Chinese film, "Drifters". I was a little skeptical about the film at first considering I had no knowledge about China or it's culture. The movie was about a Chinese family living in China experiencing difficult times. Just recently, in the movie, a son of the family was lost due to immigration overseas in order to travel to America. Immigrating from China was very difficult because it was illegal and also very complicated to pull off. Traveling through boats, space was very limited along with air supply considering the foreigners had to cram in small spaces down below in the boat in order to prevent from getting caught. The Chinese saw America as a place of opportunity and a way for a better life. I felt that this notion of America being so grand and wonderful was a stereotypical view. The other son of the family was contemplating of immigrating to America as well in search of a better life. His plans were put on hold due to the fact that his five year old son was in China also, but he was banned from the mother's family to see his child. Both the family and the older son of the other family had signed a contract stating that the father was unable to visit his son. The contract was signed in America and to the Chinese this seemed very important and was often brought up. Through watching this film I did learn how China is very different than America, not necessarily bad, just different. I did also learn very many rituals and religious notions the Chinese take part in. The religious views of ancestors along with passed relatives was very significant to the Chinese people. In a way, I saw a little connection between the views of religion with America and China. We, as Americans, take religion to be a very important aspect in our lives along with China. Whether we go to church, pray to a religious power, or read the Bible, Americans are take religion very seriously. In China, it is obvious that religion is also very significant to it's people. Whether bowing to high religious figures, using insense as a way to show respect and powerful religious views, or praising and remebering loved ones, the Chinese have very common rituals as Americans in some sense. It was very interesting to see how religiong and faith tied into China. Overall, I did enjoy the movie and enjoyed learning the ways and views of another country.

Introduction

My name is Audra Coley and I am an 18 year old Caucasian female. I have always been known to be outspoken and humorous. During my whole life I have lived in Birmingham with both my mother and father along with my younger brother Chad of age 15. I consider my family as part of the middle-working class. My mother is a nurse at UAB and my father is a painter.
I do consider myself a very religious person. I am a Christian and have been one my whole life. Although I do not attend church anymore (no particular reason) I still consider myself a Christian and a firm believer. When it comes to my sexuality, I am straight. I do not consider myself a homophobic, but I do consider myself close-minded to the thought of having a relationship with the same sex. I love to listen to music, mainly country, rap, and R&B (weird combination). Although I am a Christian and I am striaght and believe in the things that I do, I also find it very interesting to hear opinions of others as well. I do think that everyone has a right to their own opinion and I don't mind to hear it.
Going through life seeing my parent's marriage fall apart, I always promised myself I would never let myself get to that point in my life. My mother has always been a strong woman and I respect her for everything she has done for me. My father has never really been dependable or present in my life, but for the times that he has been there, he constantly wanted me to follow the views and beliefs he was brought up knowing. I am currently in an interracial relationship that my father does not know about. I have been with this person for four years now and I have learned to keep it a secret from my father. My father has always been racist so I have learned to keep certain subjects from him. I used to consider myself close-minded, simply because that was the way I was brought up from my father, but growing up in the world that I live in now, it seems that the things that were unheard of then are accpetable now, and I do wish that people in this world could be more open-minded.
These are just a few details about my life that I do consider important to me. I do love my family very much and love my life that I have now. I do consider myself a strong-willed and determined person. I believe that the choices that I make in my life are for a purpose and I do not regret the choices that I have made for myself. Overall, I do love my life and the people in it. I consider myself a very fun and outgoing person. I love to be around other people and also learn different opinions and beliefs others have as well.