Primary- first in order in any series, sequence, etc. He loved painting with the primary colors.
Tingling- to have a sensation of slight prickles, stings, or tremors, as from cold, a sharp blow, excitement, etc. She got a tingling sensation on the roller coaster.
Vaults-a room or compartment, often built of or lined with steel, reserved for the storage and safekeeping of valuables, esp. such a place in a bank. The bank robbers wanted money out of the vault.
Looting- spoils or plunder taken by pillaging, as in war. People were looting stores during the floods.
Conducted- personal behavior; way of acting; bearing or deportment. She conducted herself like a lady.
Halt- to stop; cease moving, operating, etc., either permanently or temporarily. He ordered the dog to halt.
Reconcile- to bring into agreement or harmony. the husband and wife reconciled instead of divorcing.
Residue- something that remains after a part is removed, disposed of, or used; remainder; rest; remnant. The soap left a residue on her skin.
Predicament- an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing, or dangerous situation. The group of friends were always getting into funny predicaments.
Apprentice- a person who works for another in order to learn a trade. Her career wasn't doing good so she went on celebrity apprentice.
What gives him a tingling sensation in his belly? He gets tingling sensations in his belly when he recounts the visit to New York.
What has he never seen so many of? He had never seen so many white people.
Describe his school back home. How is it different to SBTA His school is a small building made of bricks with a in roof. Our school has air conditioning and a lot of other luxuries.
What did the kids help their teacher with? How much do teachers get paid in his country? The kids helped the teachers in their farms or gardens because the teachers didn't get paid.
How come no one sat close to him or Mohamed? No one wanted to sit by him or Mohammad because they had been child soldiers and the other students were afraid of them. Would you be nervous to be friends with them? Why or why not? Yes i would be afraid of them kind of because whos knows if they are fully rehabilitated.
What day was it that the loud sound went off in his city? it was May 25, 1997
What was the cause of the noise? Why The noise was gunshots erupting around the State House and the House of Parliament. What did the newly freed prisoner do? The new government gave them guns as they got out and they went to the homes of the judges and lawyers who sentenced them and some started looting shops.
What do you think about that? i think that the new government is very corrupt and it is very dangerous.
How is there prison system different from US? The prison system here is very strict and when people get out of prison here, they are on parole not given guns.
How would you free about living in Freetown when all this is happening? I would be horrified if i lived in Freetown during this time. I would try or die trying to escape. Tell me what you think life would be like if we had no laws and people handled their own troubles? Would you want to live there? I would not want to live in a word with no laws because woman would be getting raped and i dont think any businesses would be successful. What did rebels do to the banks? They looted the banks for the money.
What did the secret market do? The secret market sold food items at twice the regular price because they were other wise unavailable.
What did the rebels order over the megaphones The commander ordered everyone to put their bags of food down , put their hands behind their back, and to lie flat facing the ground.
What were happening to the civilians, give me examples. The armed men began throwing tear gas into the crowds, people were vomiting on the sidewalks and bleeding from their noses.
What happened to Mohamed? Nothing happened to Mohammad i don't think.
How long did the gun shots last? The gunshots lasted for five months.
What were people eating most of the days? people mostly ate soaked raw rice with sugar or plain gari with salt. What happened to his uncle, what was going on with him? His uncle was very sick. He had a sever fever and he vomited everything he tried eating.
What happened to some of his rehabilated friends? Some of his rehabilitated fiends returned to the front lines.
Do you think you would end up joining the rebels again? Why? I dont think he will end up joining the rebels. I think Ishmael was genuinly touched by eveything he went through and i think he wants to get away from all the drama. What was the only way of getting out of Freetown without being killed? The only way out of Sierra Leone was Guinea, the only peaceful niegboring country.
Where was their final destination? The buses final destination was a town called Kambia. Why do you think the soldiers were so strict about searching them. I think the soldiers were so strcit of searching the bus because they could have been sneaking something.
Was there any room on the bus for him? There was room but he had to stand.
Did he make it out of Freetown? Yes he made it out of Freetown.
There have been many times were he has escaped death , why do you think that is so? I think he has escaped death so many times because he was meant to tell his story. What can he offer to the other people who have never experienced war? Tell me the story of the talking monkey. What is the significance of the story? The significance is that there really isn't a right choice because either way you loose something.
Tell me an important saying or story someone has once told you. Belive half of what you see and none of what you hear.
Generate- to bring into existence; cause to be; produce. They made a fire to generate heat.
Accumulating- to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up. Hoarders accumulate so much stuff its hard to live.
Radiator- a device constructed from thin-walled tubes and metal fins, used for cooling circulating water, as in an automobile engine. The radiator was broken in her car.
Baffled- to confuse, bewilder, or perplex. The audience was baffled by the magic show.
Facilitators- a person responsible for leading or coordinating the work of a group, as one who leads a group discussion. The facilitators at the conference were CEOs of the company.
Compelling- ending to compel; overpowering. Her attorney had a compelling argument.
Awe- an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like. He was in awe watching the birth of his daughter.
Overwhelmed- to overcome completely in mind or feeling. She was overwhelmed at her wedding.
Mesmerized- to hypnotize. He was mesmerized by her beauty.
Aimlessly- without aim; purposeless. The drunk wandered around town aimlessly.
Influential- having or exerting influence, esp. great influence. Her mother was very influential on her.
What was his vision of NYC? Where did he get his idea of NY?
His vision of NYC came from rap music. He saw it as a place where people shoot each other on the street and got away with it.
Tell me what you think NYC is like. Why?
I think NYC is a hard place to live but a cool place to visit. I have a friend whos from queens and from what he tells me it sounds pretty cool.
How come he had no idea what winter was? Where did he learn about winter from?
In Sierra Leone they really dont have a winter season. He learned about winter from Shakespeare plays.
Describe how he felt when he first felt NYC weather.
He felt his skin tighten, he couldn't feel his face, and it seemed like his ears had fallen off.
Snow and cold, lots of cars were huge culture shocks for Ishmael because he never experienced
it, tell me a tell where you experience culture shock!
I have never experienced culture shock.
Where are they staying?
They are staying at the Vanderbilt YMCA.
What other children are there as well?
The other children were from Lebanon, Cambodia, Kosovo, Brazil, Norway, Yemen, Mozambique, Palestine, Guatemala, the U.S., South Africa, Peru, Northern Ireland, India, Papua New Guinea, and Malawi.
Why was he baffled by the food? Why do you think it was hard for him to adjust.
He was baffled by the food because he had never tasted anything other than the food from his country. Its hard for him to adjust because he had b=never been out of his country.
What did he learn about some of the other children there?
He learned that these other children also had difficult childhoods.
Who is Laura Simms? Describe her and her job.
Laura Simms is a white woman from New York, she is a storyteller.
Why didn’t he accept the winter jacket? Would you?
Later, he didnt accept the winter jacket because it was a woman's jacket. I would take the jacket regardless of what sex it was intended for.
Him and Madoka visit the Times Square, what does he see? Tell me 3 things that he talks about
He talks about how absolutely amazing and crowded the place was, he admired the large buildings, and the bright colored advertisements.
What was the conference about? How did he feel about the conference?
The conference was about the different problems facing children in different countries and parts of the world. he was excited about the conference.
What is Ishmael speech about, what is your favorite sentence from his speech?
Ishmaels speech is about the situation in Sierra Leone and how it affects the children. My favorite part is when he says we are all brothers and sisters.
Do you agree with his speech? Why
Yes I agree with his speech. The children need to be helped.
How is music, and dancing a huge part of his life?
Music and dancing help him forget all his trouble.
When did he leave NY?
He left NYC on November 15, 1996.
Where was he going now?
he was going back to Sierra Leone.
What do you will happen in the next chapter?
I think Ishmael will live hapily ever after.
How will his life be different now in Sierra Leone?
I think he will feel more mature.
Do you think that he will return to the group he was part of?
I dont think he will return to the group.
Inhabitants- a person or animal that inhabits a place, esp. as a permanent resident. the inhabitants of the shore house were all tanned and in their twenties.
Apprentices- a person who works for another in order to learn a trade. The celebrities agreed to be apprentices on the reality show.
Congested- to fill to excess; overcrowd or
overburden; clog. The club was congested when they went on Friday.
Marvelous- superb; excellent; great. The guidos have marvelous tans and hair.
Possessed- having; possessing. The cops claimed possessed marijuana when he was arrested.
Intricate- having many interrelated parts or facets; entangled or involved. They got lost in the intricate maze.
Uncertainty- the state of being uncertain; doubt; hesitancy. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty.
transparent- having the property of transmitting
rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. The ghost was transparent.
What does it means that Ishmael had to be reinstated into the normal society? Ishmeal being reinstated meant that he was ready to go live outside of the camp.
Why do you think the 2 weeks felt longer than the 8 months at Benin home? I think he was probably so anxious to get out of there, he was looking forward to it.
tell me a time where you felt like time was so long. Why When I drive up to go see my auntie and cousins by 29 palms it seems like forever but it is only two hours. I think it is because I don't get to see them often
Why do you think he survived the war? I think he was just lucky to survive the war. I also think fate played a part in it because now he is sharing his story.
Would you want to be the only survivor from your family? I would hate to be the only survior in my family, i would be very lonely.
List the items that he packed in his plastic bag. A pair of sneakers, four tee shirts, three shorts, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a bottle of lotion, a Walkman and some cassettes, two long sleeved shirts, two paris of pants and a tie.
What happen with Mambu? Why do you think that his family doesn’t want him? Mambu went back to the front lines because his family didnt want him.
Can you or someone you know relate to mambu? Give me an example I know some people whos family doesnt want anything to do with them because of things they have done.
Tell me time where you had to leave and you never you will never see your friends again. I havent had a time where I left and didnt get to see my friends but, I have had a couple friends pass away and now I will never get to see them again.
How does Ishmael feel about Ester. What did he want to tell her but never did? Ishmael loves Esther. Thats how he feels and thats what he cant say.
When his uncle picked him up, how did he treat him? His uncle treats him like he is his own son.
Described how Ishmael was welcomed into the family. Ishmael was welcomed with a big feast.
What do you think he is thinking about his living situation now? Who does he share a room with? I think he feels relieved. He shares a room with his older cousin.
Who took him to sneak out and where did they go? His older cousin Allie took him out to a pub.
How were everyone dressed, how is that very different from what he is use to. The boys all had their pants ironed and thier shirts tucked in. The girls all wore beautiful flowered dresses and high heels.
How were the girls dancing to him? One girl was dancing close to Ishmael.
What memory came back to him during dancing? He remembered a town he had attacked during a school dance
What does upline mean? It refers too the backwardness of the inner country, its inhabitants, and their mannerisms
What were the interviews for? The interview was for two childern to be sent to the United Nations in New York.
Who is Dr. Tamba? Dr. Tamba is a man who he was told to meet at the United States embassy.
Did he get his Visa? Mr Kamara took him to get his visa.
Where is he off to now?? ishmael is going to New York city for the conference.
Emphasized- to give emphasis to; lay stress upon; stress. The teacher emphasized the importance of this test.
Monologue- a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker. I like watching Jay Leno's monologue.
Rehabilitated- to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like. The celebrity need to go to rehab to be rehabilitated.
Reggae- a style of Jamaican popular music blending blues, calypso, and rock-'n'-roll, characterized by a strong syncopated rhythm and lyrics of social protest. There was a reggae benefit show for my friend who passed away.
Continually- very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually. She continually used marijuana.
Concerns- to relate to; be connected with; be of interest or importance to; affect. The water shortage concerns us all.
Reuniting- to unite again, as after separation. She was in the business of reuniting people.
Repatriated- to bring or send back (a person, esp. a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to his or her country or land of citizenship. She was repatriated after her visa expired.
Why does Ishmael believe he has nothing to live for anymore? Ishmael felt like he had nothing to live for because he had no family.
How does Ester treat Ishmael? What does she do to comfort him? Esther treats Ishmael like a little brother. She comforts him by putting her arms around him and hugging him when he is upset.
Who is Abigail? Describe her Abigail was a girl that Ishmael used to go to school with.
Who are the visitors that came to the center to visit? Describe their appearance The visitors were from the European Commission, the UN, and UNICEF. They wore suits and ties.
Do you think these visitors made him nervous? I think the visitors probably did make him nervous.
What did Esther want Ishmael to do for the talent show? Esther wanted Ishmael to do a hip-hop play about the redemption of a child soldier.
What did the Mr. Kamara tell Ishmael after the event? Mr. Kamara asked Ishmael if he wanted to be the spokesperson for the center.
What would he tell people at gatherings in Freetown?. Ishmael would tell people in Freetown that child soldiering must be stopped and that they can be rehabilitated.
Who do you think Ishmael felt when he saw Mohamad? And why? I think Ishmael felt comforted seeing someone from his past. Seeing Mohamad probably made him feel like he had someone to be there for him.
Who is Tommy? Describe. Tommy is Ishmael's uncle. He is Ishmael's dad's brother and he is a carpenter.
What does “repatriated” mean? Being repatriated meant to be sent back to live with his uncle.
Describe Tommy as he walks inside and first meets Ishmael. He is tall with a genuine smile and long hands. He looked Ishmael directly in the eyes and smiled at him. When he hugged Ishmael he cried.
Tel me a time where you reunited with someone you haven’t seen for a long time. What was it like. I was reunited with one of my close friends and it was weird. Its a weird feeling to be around someone you haven't been around in a long time.
How often was Tommy going to visit? Tommy was going to visit every weekend.
Why do you think Ishmael would feel guilty if he told his friends about his uncle? I think Ishmael would feel guilty because none of his friends have any family.
Why did Ishmael love the walks with his uncle? Why were those walks important to him Ishmael loved the walks with his uncle because he got to talk about his childhood and about growing up with his father.
How would you feel meeting your new family in his situation? I would feel very nervous but relieved also.
Where does uncle live? Describe it Ishmael's uncle lives in hilly area in the western part of Freetown. His house overlooked the bay, but had no electricity or running water.
Describe his aunt. She was short with very dark skin, round cheek bones, and bright eyes.
How do you think she feels about Ishmael coming to stay with them? I think she wants to help Ishmael so i think she is looking forward to it.
What did Ishmael learn about his grandfather? Ishmael learned that his grandfather had many wives.
Tell me one thing you learned about your family. Ive learned that my family is full of scandals and that they cannot be trusted.
reserved for the storage and safekeeping of valuables, esp. such a place in a bank. The bank robbers wanted money out of the vault.
ent on celebrity apprentice.
