Summary Of Land Of The Giants By Alex Tizon
Reading Response #2 ‘Land Of The Giants’ In the essay ‘Land Of The Giants’, author Alex Tizon tells us his story about how the America dream changes him and his parents. Tizon and his parents were originally from the Philippines. They abandoned their native language, moved to California and tried for a better life. Thinking that the American dream would just happen to them, they were in for a rude awakening. They soon realized to be successful, you need to look the part. Tizon’s father started stretching his nose every day. Slowly trying to elongate the bridge of his nose to change the anatomy. He also started learning to speak English more fluent. He started eating more to gain weight and look bigger, try to compete with the giant
American men. Nothing really worked though. No matter what he tried. Everything failed and he was still the Five foot six inches one hundred and fifty pounds. The only way you can fit in is by looking like everyone else, right? Well Tizon’s family agrees with that. They have to look identical to the average American in order to live the American dream. His father says, “sharper is better. People will treat you better. They’ll think you came from a better family” (646). What he’s trying to say is, people don’t enjoy change. They see someone who looks nothing like them and worry. Tizon’s father just wants to fit in and get the same respect as the Americans.
Being an only child like Tizan, I found myself all by myself wandering the house during the day. I used to talking to myself and look in the mirror and not seeing what I saw on other little girls. They had cute girly clothes, and I had dirty t-shirts and shorts. I wondered why I didn’t fit that cute little girl standard. Just like in the book, Tizon didn’t have that certain image. I didn’t have it as easy as the other kids in public either. I had a speech problem and needed one on one work with a speech therapist everyday. It was hard for me to out of my house and do stuff that other kids did. I was too shy and scared of talking to them. I thought they would make fun of me. Kind of like the three ‘giants’ did towards Tizan’s dad. He is a small adult male and I’m a small speech impaired teenager.
American men. Nothing really worked though. No matter what he tried. Everything failed and he was still the Five foot six inches one hundred and fifty pounds. The only way you can fit in is by looking like everyone else, right? Well Tizon’s family agrees with that. They have to look identical to the average American in order to live the American dream. His father says, “sharper is better. People will treat you better. They’ll think you came from a better family” (646). What he’s trying to say is, people don’t enjoy change. They see someone who looks nothing like them and worry. Tizon’s father just wants to fit in and get the same respect as the Americans.
Being an only child like Tizan, I found myself all by myself wandering the house during the day. I used to talking to myself and look in the mirror and not seeing what I saw on other little girls. They had cute girly clothes, and I had dirty t-shirts and shorts. I wondered why I didn’t fit that cute little girl standard. Just like in the book, Tizon didn’t have that certain image. I didn’t have it as easy as the other kids in public either. I had a speech problem and needed one on one work with a speech therapist everyday. It was hard for me to out of my house and do stuff that other kids did. I was too shy and scared of talking to them. I thought they would make fun of me. Kind of like the three ‘giants’ did towards Tizan’s dad. He is a small adult male and I’m a small speech impaired teenager.