The setting in Z.Z. Packer's story "Geese", was very important in understanding what the character went through by being a foreigner in Japan. Especially an American, African-american in Japan. Describing the setting down to the looks the native Japanese projected onto Dina, merely for her looks, because she stood out from the rest. Dina struggled immensely to lead a normal life, the Japanese looked down on her for her color, and at one point even made reference that the Japanese already look down on blacks and only see them fit for custodial jobs and cleaning or assume that they have a criminal background. Once Dina was out of the job at the water park, she had no luck in finding a job that was not custodial work, that she felt she deserved. Dina lived in a house with multiple people that were from all over who also had no luck and finding and keeping jobs. They were so broke through out the story they went with eating very little and having to steal for the things that they did have. Making their faces known around all the local stores because they had all gotten caught at some point shop lifting. The setting set the tone, for me to feel bad for Dina and the others, especially when she got to the point where she gave in to selling herself for money for food. That is something that I wish no one ever had to do, but with all the details from the setting Packer wrote I could see how Dina thought she had no other option to survive.
Something that I carry with me/ wear daily is a ring that my mother gave to be about 8 years ago. It is a white gold band with a pink sapphire heart. She gave it to me for Christmas, and I tried it on immediately, and have never taken it off since. Funny thing is, I have always hated pink. I was never a girly girl and pink just was not my color of choice. She knew that and some how still ended up getting me this ring, but when I opened it, that did not matter to me. I loved it, I never said anything about how much I hate pink, because we all knew, but it was from her. To her it may have been her just getting me a really nice piece of jewelry. But to me, it meant more, it is something that I can always have with me and have ever since. Especially now that I have moved over 700 miles away from home, and I cannot see her everyday it means even more, because when I look down the ring is always there. It symbolizes to me the comfort of my mother, the love that I have for her, and her for me...
I agree with everything you said! This story is so sad, but they all did what they had to do.
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