"Writing our Stories"
The first step to our family history
One of the first things we read this semester was the article "Stories that Bind Us." This article emphasized the importance stories have in binding families together which included extended families. In fact, the article made an effort to point out the power of stories in binding extended families together; stating that these stories provide a sense of belonging for each member of the family.
A couple problems came to my mind as I read and pondered this article
Problem 1: I am not close to my extended family at all. The last time we had a "family reunion" was six years ago (and it wasn't even an official reunion). So I don't really know them really well or what their life is really like. Basically, most of them feel like strangers to me and I'm pretty sure that's how they feel about me.
Solution 1: When I started posting on my blog, I had an epiphany: even though we don't get together as an extended family often, I could still share my life with them through this blog. Hopefully through the stories and thoughts I share on this blog, we can begin to feel more like family and less like strangers.
Problem 2: While my immediate family can read and understand English really well, my extended family is not familiar with it at all. So I decided I would need to figure out a solution to convey feelings of family unity through something other than language.
Solution 2: I realized that there are lots of ways to help others get to know me that doesn't specifically deal with all the words I write. I tried to imagine what I would like to see if I was reading a blog in another language. What would I focus my attention on?
Elements that attract my attention
A couple problems came to my mind as I read and pondered this article
 |
| My family on my mom's side |
Solution 1: When I started posting on my blog, I had an epiphany: even though we don't get together as an extended family often, I could still share my life with them through this blog. Hopefully through the stories and thoughts I share on this blog, we can begin to feel more like family and less like strangers.
 |
| My family on my dad's side |
Solution 2: I realized that there are lots of ways to help others get to know me that doesn't specifically deal with all the words I write. I tried to imagine what I would like to see if I was reading a blog in another language. What would I focus my attention on?
Elements that attract my attention
- Design: this includes a welcoming background that is simple, attractive, and easy for the eye to follow.
- Pictures: "a photo is worth a thousand words." They can tell the whole story if thoughtfully used.
- Simplicity: Use simple words that are easy for others to understand.
- Short with emphasis: short posts keeps and directs the readers' attention.
These are only some of the strategies I've come up with to gear my blog posts for my family to enjoy. By no means are these the only ones. Eventually, the goal is to translate my posts into Chinese so they can more fully understand my words and who I am.
No comments:
Post a Comment