The Kite Runner Chapter 11

     Baba loved the idea of America. However, it was America that gave him an ulcer. Smog stung his eyes, pollen made him cough, traffic noise gave him headaches, water never clean enough or fruits never sweet enough. Baba rejected to learn English which means Baba's not completely accepting new life in the U.S. Maybe, he has too high pride about what he built and how he was respected in Kabul. Like many of the refugees, he was experiencing a hard time adjusting for a different environment. For Amir, America was a place to bury his memories. While for Baba, it was a place to mourn his memories.

     Everyone who lived at an apartment in Fremont was with low income, working as a bus driver or gas station attendants. While there are people who spend time collecting the welfares, Baba ended humiliating food stamps as soon as he was fired in a gas station. His nature didn't change and still cherished honor as an Afghan but he worked all day as a day manager and Amir saw his eyes secretly watering from fatigue.

     Baba often enlightened Amir with his politics. He said there are only three real men in the world, American, British, and Israel and that it's nothing to do with religion. I was surprised by how Baba didn't include Afghan. Maybe, his thinking changed after looking at lazy and awful Afghans in the apartment. Baba supported Ronald Reagan who took action and mentioned Shorawi is an ''evil empire.'' He was the lone Republican in the apartment.

     After a year and a half since immigration, the worst event occurred in a little grocery store run by a nice old Vietnamese couple called Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen. As Baba had no cash for oranges, Mrs. Nguyen asked him for ID and his license, which was a rule. However, Baba got really furious because he felt like Mrs. Nguyen doubted him as a thief although the two years of interaction. I believe his pride and honor were wounded badly because theft was the only sin that exists for him. In Afghanistan, the trust made human relationships. Maybe, this feels unnatural for us who live in developed countries. In Tokyo, interaction with neighbors is almost disappearing and I actually have no idea about who's living next to my home.

     In 1983, Amir graduated high school at the age of twenty. Baba looked really proud and he celebrated in Afghan Kabob house and bar, even starting a party with strangers. He was the same old Baba in Kabul. In addition to the nice celebration, Baba presented Amir an old model ford which made Amir very glad because it didn't feel like bloodmoney at all. On the other hand, Amir decided to enroll in junior college classes and major in English creative writing. Baba wanted him to do ''real work'' like a doctor or lawyer. However, Amir didn't want to sacrifice for Baba anymore because last time he had done that, he had damned himself.

     Baba murmured iconic words, ''I wish Hassan had been with us today''. He didn't mention Ali once again although his life partner was Ali and not Hassan. In my opinion, it is unlikely for a master to mention the servant's son on a wonderful day for his son but it makes sense when Baba and Hassan are secretly connected in blood.

     After two years since arrival in the U.S, Kabul had become a city of harelipped ghosts for Amir. America was different from Afghanistan and unmindful of the past. He desired for life with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins. However, Hassan was always somewhere in his heart. Baba and Amir had a hobby of driving to flea markets every Sunday. There, he met a hard-working woman called Soraya Taheri. She was the daughter of Baba's friend, General sahib who worked for the Ministry of defense in Afghanistan. Mr. Iqbal Taheri's speech and the suit looked often used and unnaturally shiny. To conclude, Soraya became a beautiful princess for Amir.