#8. The meaning of “I”

Italy, India, and Indonesia. What do these distinct and unique countries have in common, more than you might think. They may not be the first three countries that you clump together, but isn't that the point. Author Elizabeth Gilbert embarks on a journey of self to these three destinations all fittingly starting with the all important "I".
First it is important to know that before leaving, Gilbert had just ended a time and money consuming divorce. She had spent years unhappy always knowing that where she was in life was not where she wanted to be. She finally ended it and in doing so found out that she needed to do some self discovery, not only for her future relationships but the relationship with herself. And so she embarked on a worldwide tour with none other than that person.
It may be odd to someone else why she chose these places yet to her the decision was clear. She would enjoy the art of pleasures of Italy, the art of devotion in India, and the balancing of both in Indonesia. These three “I”s would team up to form a whole, refreshed, and better Gilbert. Never doubt the power of “I”.

essential question: che

I think that Che knew early on that he wanted to have a true impact on the world around him but more specifically the communities he was involved with. He saw the things around him that he liked and disliked and wanted to change the things he saw as wrong for the better. You can see in his writings when he speaks of not being able to help the sick woman that he wishes he would have been able to do more for her even though he was unable. He wanted to become someone that the people could rely on to make a change having their best interests at heart, but did he accomplish this, one must decide for themselves. He went from country to country early on seeing the world around him molding the future beliefs that we saw so prominent to him in the documentry.

The Assignment

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a story that surprisingly relates to that of Che Guevara's in the Motorcycle Diaries. Though they may deal with different events and present opposite ideas they both tell the stories of people embarking on a journey to new lands. Throughout the next couple of weeks you will see, amidst my other posts, responses to different questions about my independent reading book, Eat, Pray, Love. Hopefully I will be able to connect my findings to The Motorcycle Diaries resulting in a appreciation and understanding for stories written "on the road." So watch out for these posts and try to follow along as I embark on my own little journey.

chile

By right or might, land undefined.

ideology

I believe that you don't need to worry about everything and that things happen for a reason. These events occur for a reason because it helps establish and make stronger the person you become. You also just need to laugh it out and realize that the little things really don't matter. Be who you are and learn to overcome the sometimes difficult events that life deals you.

article

This article reminds me of some of the work Che did during his lifetime. When they talk about how the U.S. is training troops in Pakistan it reminds me of when he was training people in Bolivia. It is different in the way that the United States is taking a major role in the efforts as opposed to when, I believe, they were against it occurring in Bolivia. They were also just the same with the secrecy of the projects, although it is not secret anymore!

voice

One great example of Che's voice is when you read the letter he writes to his mother. This not only shows you how he is protective of his mother by sharing selective events with her but also the more caring side of him. He tells his mom not to worry about him and by trying to keep in contact, shows that he is happy about his life and family. Another example of this is when he is talking about the dog, Comeback. He shares deep feelings for the dog, relying on him as one of two companions for a part of the trip. Both these things provide a glimpse into the man Che was during his journey.