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Moving to America
Maya and her family move to America from Kazakhstan, due to to her aunt Madina finding love in a dating magazine. They go from a very religious state to a place where there is hardly any religion, and this is a thought that Maya's parents cannot comprehend. Her dad said, "Is this how you raise your daughter! Is this what you teach her? Lessons to be a toy for American boys!" (Okimoto, 17). while Maya was just generally having a good time with her friends, ajusting to the American culture. -
Joining the Gymnastics
Maya asked her parents to join the gymnastics team, and despite her father not liking American culture, he complied. Maya joins the team, and make a new friend called Shannon Lui. It states "There's another reason why I love gymnastics. Shannon Lui is on the team" (Okimoto, 3) -
Spring Fling Handouts
Maya is at school, and is forced with the challenge of deciding if she should accept a permission slip to go to the dance or not. She knows that her parents wont let her go, but takes one home anyways. -
Nurzhan's Fight
Maya's brother, Nurzhan, gets into a fight with a boy who ahd been tounting him, Ossie Nishizono. They asked Maya to come in, and call her father, and translate for him, since Nurzhan's English is not very well. Maya translates, but not portraying exactly what the principal is saying. The principal said "We have a policy that anyone who fights must be suspended from school. Both boys will recieve a two-day suspension." and Maya translated it to "The other boy, who is very bad, is not allowed.. -
Maya Gets in Trouble
Maya and Shannon get out of practice, to find David and Daniel outside after weight training. They were in a playful mood, and decided to flirt with the girls by picking them up and testing their strength. They were having a good time, and Maya's father pulls up, and sees his daughter in the arms of a boy. This, as I'm assuming would upset any father, expecially one of a different religion. He storms up to her, and screams at her to get in the cab, and acts very ashamed of her behavior. "Is...
