Aubrey Blackstock post three

Throughout the book, I have noticed that the theme acceptance is the key to true freedom occurs. Juan creates a false perception of who he truly is. He denies who is family is. For example on page 134 Juan remembers telling everyone that "his mother had been a maid in a great mansion in Miramar, and his father had been killed in the Sierra Maestrea Mountains,fighting beside Fidel." It's not just Juan, all of the exiles have similar thoughts. The exiles say things like, "oh I shouldn't have left. It's going to get better any day now. I should have sat it out and waited patiently." In truth, if they saw what was going on back home, they wouldn't want to go back. The exiles need to accept their decision and realize that it might have been the right one for them. Accepting the truth can make all the difference especially for Juan. It wasn't until he heard his father's voice, while Juan was floating in the raft, that he recognized it was shameful to lie about one's past. When Juan finally accepted who he is, he was no longer afraid of dying, or anything. He finally felt whole and this truth set him free.

Hu Post Three

The book includes a wide variety of themes, but one that stood out for me was "To achieve anything, you need to never stop hoping." Never stop hoping for a better future, freedom, love, acceptance, happiness, or anything and eventually you will have it accomplished. It reoccurs throughout the entire book, staring when Andres sacrifices himself in the hope his friends will continue on their journey. After his death the two remaining friends hope to stay alive. When Raul is disoriented after the hurricane, he most rely, or have hope in Juan to make sure they're still on course. After the shark attack, Juan is mourning for the loss of his companions but as he approaches Florida daily, the hope of seeing Carmen lets him not succumb to the peace and quiet of death. We as readers see Juan losing hope and know the only way for him to safely reach Carmen is to keep his spirits up- but he already considers himself "a dead man." Whenever you stop having faith in a better tomorrow, it affects what you are going to do today, so when I pondered the meaning of this book, I thought of all the hardships but how he finally reached his destination, yet he was alone; and after all that hope, he has found somewhere to be himself.

Kendall McRae post 3

After reading the novel, I have come up with the theme that "Sometimes, giving up things important to you are necessary for freedom." Juan along with Raul and Andres, as well as Alberto had to give up many special things to them in order to make it to the Florida Keys. Juan had to leave his career as a teacher and his old world in Cuba. He also had to lose Raul and Andres, who gave their lives to freedom, in order to make the crossing. Alberto had to give his life, and in doing so also gave up his future love, in order to save Juan from the hungry grasp of the ocean and find inner enlightenment. As said by Juan on page 158 "It had been normal, he thought at first, to give part of his life, part of himself, to them so that the rest might be preserved. Surely everyone did this." Juan had to face near death to achieve freedom; he had to give up his old life to develop a new one.

Ben Horst Post 3

After finishing this book, one theme seemed most important to me. The author repeatedly explained the Gulf Stream as a highway or passageway to freedom. It was almost as if the sole purpose of the Stream was to carry Cubans across the straights. During one's life, there are many opportunities to succeed, and many times, one leads to another. Like a road leads one from one destination to another. As I read about the current, I couldn't help thinking of it in two ways. Obviously as a physical ocean current, but also as a pathway, a road, or a choice in one's life's direction towards freedom. From this, I believe that there will always be choices to choose the right path, possibly less obvious than an actual path across a sea though. Along that path, there will be more choices along the way, some leading farther toward the intended destination, others changing the original course, but no matter what, it will always lead somewhere.

Melissa Gurevitch post 3

The theme of The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera is, "you can't let hard times prevent you from reaching your goals". In the beginning of the story, Juan, Raul, and Andres begin their journey together. Soon after they depart though, Juan and Raul are faced with their first hardship, Andres' murder. This was difficult for both of them, but they did not let it bring them down. A little later when the hurricane strikes Juan and Raul loose almost everything. Instead of complaining they immediately begin to think about how to survive. Not too long after the hurricane, Juan is faced with one of the hardest parts of the journey, the death of his friend Raul. It was very hard for Juan to loose someone so close to him and in addition he was left alone to make it to Miami. Many people would have given up at this point and Juan almost did. Juan realises though that he can still make it. The book showed me that you will have to face difficult times in your life, but you can't let that stop you from living your life. Juan set out with the goal to obtain freed on and no matter what happened, he continued his journey until it was accomplished.

Suhr Post 3

The theme that I have chosen from the book is: One must never give up on their dreams. There were many times throughout the trials and tribulations of this story when Juan could have given up on his dream of freedom. When Andres was killed by the gun boat, Juan could have just decided that this voyage across the sea demanded too much. Juan, however, fought back his emotions and floated onward. Another time that giving up presented itself as a good option was when Raul and Juan were taken over by the hurricane. At this point I would have felt that my journey was doomed to fail, but Juan and Raul held tight to their dreams(and also the raft!) and made it through the storm alive. Later, after Raul has been eaten alive by a tiger shark and Juan is left all alone, Juan almost slipped into the murky depths of the sea and gave into the sweet temptations of death. However, the thought of finally fulfilling his dream kept him clinging to the raft. Alberto(Cessna Pilot) then finally spots him and he is taken to safety and freedom. Juan held fast to his dream of freedom through the tests of the open ocean and death and fulfilled his dream by making it to America.

Paula: Post Three

One of the many themes in the story is that courage can be found in the strangest of places. As you know, Juan wasn’t tough, brave, or strong in the beginning. He was just your average physics and astronomy professor. But it’s amazing how much two friends, an inner tube raft and a trip in the unpredictable ocean can transform someone. In the beginning, Juan was a lying coward, telling fibs just to save his back and hid his past. But, as he goes on his deep-sea journey, he begins to change. When his friend, Raul, was being attacked by the shark, he finds the courage and strength that he had lost when his father was taken away. As he floats on the raft, he realizes the fear, the lies, and the familiar negrura didn’t do anything but hurt him. He sees that there is nothing to be afraid of, not even death, because in death, you can find an endless rest.

Grace Post Three

The theme I chose is that there's hope in both life and death. The author used this theme for nearly every major event and main character. For example, when Andres gave himself up for Raul and Juan, he knew he was getting freedom, perhaps not the way he wanted but he was. He also knew was giving the chance to live in freedom to Raul and Juan. When Raul was eaten by the shark, Juan, even though he was numb with shock, he felt (to quote) "as if all the fear and all the death and all the duplicity of the last thirty years had been swallowed in that place"the place being where Raul had last been. He had also gained confidence and was comforted by the fact that he and the place where Raul had been were flowing together in the Gulf Stream. When the unknown 14 year old boy's funeral took place, everyone was driven to tears, just imagining the loss. However, the only comfort and hope was that he gained true freedom. Jose Antonio, Raul's brother, lost Raul, but he found Juan and he already had his own family, who are living free. There are many more examples, and despite that fact that the story was somewhat depressing, the author tied hope into all the grief and sorrow.

rob cosby post three

The theme I chose for this story is: taking the road less traveled by, shows the hero and determination within oneself. These three Cubans had the power within their minds to put together a small inner tube raft, float approximately 100 miles to the U.S., and obtain their freedom with a sense of pride. They were willing to risk their lives and travel along an uncharted route across the Gulf of Mexico into Miami. The courage and determination that is needed to leave a place once called home and out into a perilous ocean, is beyond any one man's power. However, Juan has become a hero and proved to himself and others around him, that he deserves to walk as a free man, no matter where he goes or what road he travels on. Throughout the book, the writer uses detailed descriptions, that all lead back to one word: determination. While Juan feels rather pessimistic during most of the novel, he must feel much pride in knowing that he wakes up each day...as a free man.

Andrew Doetsch Post 3

The theme of the story I chose is that freedom is worth risking your life to attain. As we have read, Juan has had countless close encounters with death. He missed being spotted by the Cuban (Russian) gunboat. Unfourtunatly, his friends life was taken. He almost drowned during a hurricane. He was attacked by a ferociuos shark and barely escaped with his life, unlike his companion. He would have died of exposure, had he not been rescued by Alberto. He went through this tourture just to attain freedom, and that is evedence to my theme. As the first paragraph said: "Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts that heaven has bestowed upon men; no treasures the earth holds buried or the sea conceales can compare with it: for freedom, as for honor, life may and should be ventured."

FINAL POSTING

FINAL POSTING--TRY TO FINISH BY FRIDAY SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND. MUST POST BY MONDAY NIGHT!

QUESTION: SELECT ANY THEME IN THE NOVEL AND EXPLAIN HOW THAT THEME IS EXPRESSED. REMEMBER THAT A THEME IS AN IDEA THAT THE READER TAKES AWAY FROM THE NOVEL THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO HIS/HER LIFE OR THE WORLD IN GENERAL.

Remember to choose only one theme and show where it appears--in the words, actions, events, descriptions, emotions that the writer has given us. There are no "wrong" answers as long as you can make your case.

You may use the same theme as a previous poster if your analysis is different.

Do a great job--this post counts double.

Enjoy your weekend!

Assignment

Finish reading the novel for Friday posts. There will be no responses required.

Ben Horst Response 4

Paula, in your post you stated that courage and strength can make something happen. I agree but, would like to add something. Although it is important to have these characteristics to make a difference, I believe that initiative is more important. Starting something is the single most important step to completing a task. One may be courageous and strong, but if they never get started, none of that maters.

Ben Horst Response 3

This response is to Austin's post. Austin, I agree with your point about bravery. Having enough bravery to do the things she did does show that things are bad in Cuba. But, I would also like to add that courage in hard time also shows hope. When we know that there is some resistance at all, hope is instilled that there may be an end to the hard times. To me, this makes me think that the Cuban government will never succeed in a true dictatorship as long as the inhabitants have hope.

Peter Steiner Post 2

One of the more interesting Cuban exiles we learn about is Alberto. He exhibits an astounding amount of determination. It is mentioned that the military did not trust any of the Cubans that had crossed. Despite the fact that he was reptetively turned down, he insisted on taking part in the supply drops (starts on page 115). The U.S. pilots had a hastily-made preconception (or "conjecture") that they could not trust the Cubans, which would have been a tremendous barrier to break. Some of the greatest barriers of all are mental barriers because the person is required to accept a new idea that could have been completely foreign to that person. However, Alberto's insistant pleading granted him permission to drop the supplies to the U.S. troops, which became a superbly successful venture. These events illustrate that determination of his, because he knew that he was the correct pilot for the mission and refused to back down, leading to success. He continues exhibiting this determination as the book progresses as well, but this is one of the clearest examples in my opinion.

Aubrey Blackstock response four

Ben is correct. Alberto did have a thoughtful escape plan and executed it well. Even still, luck played a part. Alberto was in the right place at the right time and took advantage of the situation. His escape is recounted in such a way that it makes me wonder if Alberto's boldness will be his downfall. In contrast, Juan has motive, but is short on means. His escape on the raft is just another form of flight.

Andrew Doetsch Post 2

The person I chose is Carmen. I believe Carmen is a very strong-willed woman. She believes firmly in what she thinks is right and will risk herself to protect her values. She has used to have a life as an artist portraying communism as a good thing, but she firmly disagreed with what she was doing, so she fled the land she had lived on all her life. She embarked on a journey that had taken the lives of people stronger than she, but I believed the reason she made it through alright was because of her will.

Paula: Response 4

I agree with Rebecca when she says the lady “shows and extraordinary amount of patriotism to her country”. Her willing to die for the freedom of her country illustrates how much she really loves Cuba.

rob cosby response four

I agree with Grace's thoughts about Vivian. She shows great courage to leave her home at such a young age. Although Juan is leaving as an adult, I think that Vivian's experiences give the reader a better sense for the risks taken by these children and adults in their search for freedom. Though Vivian shows much courage, it sounds like her parents almost forced her in to leaving by telling her that freedom is better than your home which, when you put it that way, did not really make sense, especially to a seven year old girl.

Melissa Gurevitch response 4

I agree with Grace's post about Vivian. Vivian and Juan's journeys are both very similar, but also very diferent. It must have been so hard for Vivian to have to practically restart her entire life on her own at such a young age. What she did not only took an amazing amount of bravery but also determination. Now, when I read about all of the hardships that Juan is facing, I can only imagine how difficult the journey must have been for Vivian when she was a child.

melissa gurevitch response 3

I agree with Ben's thoughts about Alberto. When I was reading about Alberto, I was mostly focused on how he was helping others and not about how difficult his own journey must have been. Now that I look at his situation from a different perspective though, I realize how patient he is. Since he owns a flight school I think that this quality is very important and he would be a wonderful teacher.

Grace Response Four

I completely agree with Rebecca on her post. When I read the last sentence, I also realized her wistfulness. To elaborate on it, she feels a deep sadness and longing for her homeland, but she knows she cannot return, her freedom is worth more. I feel that her loyalty for her country and her yearning for freedom inspire those two feelings. I've seen a motif here with all the cuban exiles. There's the longing for an unforgettable homeland (whether for family or memories) and an incredible sadness at being unable to go back. Even though the exiles say "Next year in Havana, "they know it's not possible (yet, hopefully).

Hu Response Four

In agreement with Ben's post, Alberto's story and memories do command a level of respect for his preparation and dreams. However I don't think they could have anticipated the hurricane without any sort of mechanism to determine pressure, or any other weather out at sea, it was to be expected that they be caught by surprise. I admire Alberto's perseverance of his dream to be a pilot and also how he tirelessly searches for refugees.

Grace Response Three

I agree with Ben about Alberto. He had patience and intelligence and was also not taking many risks. However, I disagree with the fact that Juan and Co. should have been more prepared for the hurricane. They didn't have the opportunities, time, and equipment that Alberto had. They couldn't stall their escape and they had no choice. It was inconvenience and just plain bad luck that they happened to leave the day before the hurricane, which would be when the signs aren't as noticeable.

Andrew Doetsch Responce 2

After reading Rebecca's responce, I have to agree and disagree with her. Juan has remained composed through out the chapters we have read, but in some instances he has been indecisive and jumpy. I completely understand how he would have been freaked out at his friend's death, but he wasn't calm enough to make a plan on how to or if he was going to save him. And also when he was in the middle of the hurricane, he couldn't figure out if his priority was to save his friend, or to save himself.

Kendall McRae Response 4

I agree with Grace on her decision about Vivian. She was very brave to be sent over at such a young age, and it most definately makes her unique compared to the other cuban exiles. I agree with her parents on their choice of giving her a life of freedom, and that she was very brave. Not many people in her situation would have been able to cope.

Ben Horst Post 2

When I began to read about Alberto, I immediately had immense respect for him. Even the first sentence about him (P.81) gave me information of his character. As I read farther into chapters ten, eleven, and twelve, I see more about him. The way he escaped seemed much more intelligent of a procedure than the plans of Juan, Raul, and Andres. As I read about their perils, I thought that they should have been more prepared. Even with their limited resources, it seems their must be some way to know a hurricane is heading straight for them. Alberto, on the other hand, waited until the optimum moment for escape. He had many chances as he was flying over fields, but he waited. Also, he began planning his escape as early as his teenage years. His "plans" only started out as dreams, but even thinking about something as big as escaping, helps a lot. This shows me that Alberto has great intelligence and incredible patience.

Kendall McRae Response 3

This is a response to Robs post 2
I agree with Rob's statement about Alberto showing compassion and support for other Cubans in search of freedom. Even though his trip wasn't quite as dangerous as some of the others, he still understands the struggles people go through to make it to Florida. He also shows great attitude when it comes to finding people in the ocean, as he demonstrated while looking for Juan in chapter 12.

Grace Post Two

The person I chose was Vivian. The main reason I chose her was because I felt that her being sent over at such a young age would make her unique compared to the other cuban exiles. The experience I want to discuss concerns the beginning of her new life. Her parents had felt that giving her a life of freedom was much better that growing up surrounded by oppression (they also feared that she would be sent to Russia, pg. 127). Her father had said that she had to be brave (pg. 128) and she was only seven at the time. Vivian truly was brave. She was so young and she was alone. Even though her father came, he left soon after (pg. 128). Vivian knows that she can't go back (pg. 126). She faces that truth and knows that she can never truly belong in Cuba (pg.126). Even if she were to go back, it would no longer be her home. It enhances Juan's story by giving a comparison to the adult exiles and gives another view.

Aubrey Blackstock response three

I do agree with Austin that this woman has great courage. She has a great compassion for these people to be risking her life for.
Austin mentions a horse in his post. I've noticed that there are several references to horses, though I haven't figured out the symbolism yet. For example, Alberto teaches a student how to fly, explaining, "The airplane is just like a horse. You have to be firm but gentle..." (pg. 84-85) In another reference, a man leaves Cuba riding a horse with flippers attached to its hoofs.(pg. 80) Maybe the symbolism is the want for freedom is as strong as a horse.

Kendall McRae Post 2

In chapter 12 of The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera, we read about Alberto thinking about an old school teacher who made the crossing from Cuba to the Florida Keys. This woman shows a lot of control. Some in her position may not be able to take the great responsibility that comes with being in the resistance against the Communists in 1961, and the danger that she was put in while smuggling food and weapons to the ones fighting in the Escambray Mountains. During her day job, it took control to pretend that nothing was wrong and she was playing by the rules. Luckily when the CIA became suspicious the resistance managed to ship her out to Islamorada. When she arrived on the beach and the drunk tourists mistook her for Sophia Lauren, she made jokes about it instead of being offended, which shows control in her emotions. On page 101 when Alberto is talking to her and he can see the sadness in her eyes, it shows that she can be light and carefree on the outside but still feel sadness on the inside.

A couple of comments

Folks, please make sure to read the posts before yours before you write. The idea is that each of you adds something new to the conversation. Even if you say it well, your post won't count if the information is the same.

Also, and I know this is new to you all--try not to give us too much of the story. Remember that we have all read. Spend a bit more thinking and then writing about what the events mean. Think in terms of conflict, characterization, tone, foreshadowing, or maybe the emotional effects on the reader. Are we being reminded of or informed of something that enhances our understanding or makes us react differently to the events?

Literary analysis is difficult at first, and you guys are doing fine. Just start digging a bit deeper. Make ME say, "Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that!"

Paula: Response 3

I agree with Rob when he says Alberto is a supportive Cuban. Thirties years after escaping Cuba, he feels the need that he must do something more for his fellow brothers who’s chances for freedom are much harder then it was for him.

rob cosby response three

I agree with Aubrey's points in her post. Carmen is very trustworthy as well as concerned for Cuban exiles. She always seems to know what is going on, whether it involves her or not. Aubrey also mentioned that Carmen's experiences all realism to the book, which I also agree with.

Paula: Post Two

In chapter twelve, page 100-101, Alberto remembers chatting with a hauntingly beautiful Cuban exile from Sancti Spiritus about her escape story. In 1961, she had been with the battle against the Communists. She rode a horse across the Escambray Mountains, bringing saddlebags full of ammunition, food and weapons to the men fighting. By day, she is just a sweet kindergarten teacher, but at night, she is a brave fighter. But, when the secret police became suspicious, the resistance has to save her life by taking her on a boat to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. There, a CIA contact meets her at the beach, while the men fighting in the resistance must return to Cuba. She shows that someone as innocent as a kindergarten teacher can make an immense difference with some courage and strength.

Aubrey Blackstock post two

In chapters 9-12 we read about many peoples experiences in coming to America. I think that through Carmen's experiences we found out that she is a very trusting person. In chapter nine she describes being a school aged child and hearing about how the refugees aren't faring well in Miami. This information is coming from the government. She remembers thinking that since the American ships had retreated from the battle then this must be true. She remembers trusting the government's statement. It came a great shock to her when she actually met some of the refugees while at college. The refugees were becoming prosperous while in Miami. This adds to the realism of what was actually happening in Cuba at the time, and therefore makes the story more believable. Propaganda distributed by the dictatorial government is often misleading to the people. The innocent people believe this and have a false sense of security in their own homeland. They find out the truth when they talk to others who have escaped.

Hu Response Three

In response to Melissa's post, I agree that it is very courageous of Alberto to continue aiding other escapees even after he is safe and well in the United States. His looking for Juan does improve his survival chances and does give the reader some hope for Juan making it safely to his destination. He is not completely safe yet though, Alberto may fail to find him or he may come upon another hardship. Alberto is certainly a caring person, and adds new perspective.

Suhr Response 4

I disagree with some of what Melissa said in her post. I do not believe the Alberto's involvement will directly improve Juan's chances for survival. It is not as though Alberto can swoop down and pick up Juan on his plane. At best, Alberto will see the raft afloat on the open water and be able to tell Carmen about it but I don't believe that Alberto would be able to determine whether or not Juan is even alive or not.

Suhr Response 3

I agree with what Rob said about Alberto. Alberto is very passionate towards other people trying to escape from Cuba. I think that he feels like he should try to do eveything he can to help make other people's journey's eisier due to the fact that his was so easy. In chapter 12 he spends all day out in his plane over the Gulf scanning the seemingly endless waters for the slightest sign of Juan and his make-shift raft.

Suhr Post 2

In chapter 12 Alberto recalls having a conversation with a school teacher that escaped from Cuba. This woman shows a lot of bravery. In 1961 she had been a part of the resistance. By night she would take ammunition and supplies to men in the Escambray Mountains by horse back. By day she would teach a kindergarten class. Can you imagine being a school teacher and then sneaking off with loads of ammunition on a horse at night? If the police had caught her or discovered what she was doing she could have been killed. The fact that she knows this and still continues to do it is very inspirational. She eventually is taken over to America by boat and met by a C.I.A. agent. Her bravery and actions were rewarded with freedom but she came very close to being captured by the police. The fact that an ordinary school teacher could be filled up with so much bravery just shows how bad life is over in Cuba.

Melissa Gurevitch post 2

Alberto shows a lot of courage in chapters 9 - 12. He risked his own life in the sixties when he made the trip from Cuba to Miami by plane. Instead of beginning a new life for himself he decided to again risk his life helping others make the same trip he made. In my opinion what he does for others takes an amount of courage that most people do not possess. His thoughts, attitudes, and experiences add hope to the story. On page 84, when Vivian calls Alberto about the raft, Alberto immediately begins to help. Knowing that Alberto is looking out for Juan and Raul and has been through similar experience reassures me that they will be okay. I know that Alberto is very capable of assisting Juan and Raul and am more hopeful that Juan and Raul will complete their journey now that Alberto is involved and determined to help them.

Hu Post Two

In The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera, there are multiple stories of Cuban exiles. In Chapter 12 (pages 100- 102), Andres remembers a crossing telling stories with a kindergarten teacher, who is also with the Resistance. She shows an extraordinary amount of patriotism to her country, Cuba. By risking her life every night to help the soldiers fighting, she demonstrates a great love for her country, even though Cuba was going through tough times. She knew the consequences of her daring transportation missions, but kept at it anyway. Most people nowadays, don't want to endanger themselves for a country that is not even in turmoil similar to the crisis in the book; in comparison his seemingly regular schoolteacher masquerades by day, and saves lives in the night. Eventually she is forced to flee from Cuba, to the Keys because her missions are becoming more and more suspicious; and when she does arrive, she is greeted by the CIA- showing how important her status is. All of her daring is rewarded in the end, with freedom. This woman is a great example, but not a typical one of Cubans making the crossing the the USA. However, even after all her effort, as she's telling the story to Alberto- she feels that "strange wistfulness" for her fellow Cubans.

rob cosby post two

Alberto, who traveled to the U.S. about thirty years ago, shows much compassion and support for other Cubans in search or freedom. He did not make it the U.S. by raft, but by airplane. Although his trip had been much easier, he understands the risks taken and the dangers that lie ahead of rafters. Thirty years ago, when he left, there was not any U.S. air patrol, so his dream, to fly to the U.S., as a young teenager, could possibly come true. He had become an expert pilot, and left on his "great-adventure"(pg. 87) in the sixties. I think that Alberto's adventure adds a different side to the story. Back in the sixties, the U.S. did not have as much patrol along the coasts of Florida. So, arriving in the U.S. by raft, was not the only way to get there. Even if someone from Cuba had tried to make it by raft, it would have been easier than it was for Juan because of the lack of patrol. I think that Alberto's adventure really proves how difficult Juan's adventure really is, and how much freedom really means to all Cubans in search of their own freedom.

Just to make it interesting . . .

I decided to create a third blog so that none of them gets too crowded. It will be open to all of my ninth grade students.

Parron4.blogspot.com

You can look at the question there; if you would rather post on that one, email me on firstclass asking for an invitation. Each time a post is due, you can choose either this one or the other one. You must respond on the same blog on which you posted, though--I can keep track of only so much!

Juan Cabrera Post 2

First, I want to say that you are doing a great job with this! I can tell that you are already thinking a bit more critically about the book and, more importantly, about others' judgments.

Now for our second topic:

Choose any one of the Cuban exiles mentioned in the book and discuss what his/her thoughts/attitudes/experiences add to the story. Remember to choose ONE thing to talk about. ONE person and ONE thing about him/her.

Ben Horst Response 2

In response to Kendall's post: I greatly agree with your point. Juan was quite reserved at first, but then changed himself as the situation at hand required. However, I think that your sentence stating that he became more mature is inaccurate. He always had the maturity, he simply chose not to show it until the situations that he had no choice.

Aubrey Blackstock response two

I agree with Erin's analysis that Juan is a thinker. However, I think that he dwells on unpleasant thoughts maybe too long. I do agree that Juan is an introverted person because he is just now starting to come out of his shell. He is taking small steps and even surprised himself when he tried to save Raul by hitting the shark in the gills.

Melissa Gurevitch response 2

I deffinetly agree with Kendall's thought that Juan it slowly reaching his potential. At the beginning of the book I would never have thought that a professor like Juan would be one to make such a dangerous journey. Later in the book though when he bagan to show how strong and brave he actually was, he suprised me and i believe himself a litte also.

Kendall McRae Response 2 (to Ben)

This is a response to Ben's 1st.

I agree and disagree with your observations. Juan is in good control over his emotions in some points in the book such as with Andres or the shark attack, but he also tends to panic often. In the beginning, while they were setting out he was having terrible anxiety about being caught, and could barely keep from panicking. For example on page 14 when he asked Raul "What the hell are you doing now?" and then "Hurry, hurry, they're coming back," When Raul and Andres were clearly more relaxed.

Kendall McRae Response 1 to Rob

This is a response to Rob's post 1.
I agree with your point, I also think that Juan is a very intellectual thinker. You make good points like the hurricane and on page 46 when Juan says "Listen, if I don't make it, tell Carmen-" and Raul replies, "You'll make it." I think that really does show how he is thinking of other things besides the matter at hand. Adding to your point, on page 39 while Juan is being pulled behind the inner tube he keeps thinking "Now. The time is now; there will never be another time like this; there will never be another time at all... and I will never be again." instead of worrying about trying to breathe.

Kendall McRae Post 1

In chapters 5-8 of The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera, I have learned that Juan is slowly trying to make his way to the peak of his potential, and that there is more to him than he himself realizes. In the beginning of the novel, Juan is a very reserved, logical teacher at the University of Camaguey. He tends to stick to one answer instead of letting his mind wander to alternatives. As the chapters go on however, Juan slowly develops into a more mature individual. As you can see (on page 39) while he is being dragged roughly behind the inner tubes he emerges only to find his left hand still grasping onto one of the lines tied to the 'rafts.' This symbolizes that there is more strength inside of Juan than he gives himself credit for. The average person may have crumbled under the devastation after Andres' death, but Juan somehow moved on. It was surprising to me on page 69 when Juan grabbed a pectoral fin and struck the gills of the tiger shark, which shows that under the negativity and panic, there is more to him than it seems.

Grace Response Two

This is a response to Ben's post. I agree with Paula on the subject. Juan doesn't show control over his feelings. I agree that he tries see ahead and tries to see alternative solutions sometimes. However, Juan often is taken by fear and disregards everything with few exceptions. An example would be that when Andres is killed, he can't forget the fear and remorse, he can't even imagine Carmen after that occurred. In conclusion, Juan tries to be prepared and plots things out in his mind, but he does not have great self control.

Grace Response One

This is a response to Peter's post. I agree with him on the fact that he cares a lot about his friends and that he wants to help them. However, I disagree that Juan is somewhat selfish. He has the instinct for self preservation, so he cannot will himself to help his friends (except when he punches the shark). Also, when he went to the spot where Raul had been, he wasn't really searching for him, but he was looking for some direction to go. So to Peter's post, I have two opinions, Juan cares deeply about his frinds, but often his fear is too great so it doesn't matter.

Paula: Responce 2

I disagree with Ben about Juan having “great control” over his feelings. On page 41, he thinks about how Andres was clam and was teasing Raul while he was shouted at him. “Darn it, Raul, hurry up! Why are you wasting time with those stupid ropes?” That doesn’t sound like great control to me.

Paula: Responce 1

I agree with Peter that Juan isn’t selfish when it comes to living, but he should have at least tried to help Andres when he was getting shot at. He should have made an effort to help him instead of giving up, saying there was nothing he could do.

Andrew Doetsch Responce 1

After reading peters post, I have gained a new aspect of Juan. He gives good information about how he believes Juan is loyal to his friends. I now think ofJuan as a caring guy who needs his friends to help him through the journey. I wonder how the title, The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera, ties into his relationship with his friends.

Suhr Response 2

I agree with what Rebecca said in her post about Juan remaining calm except for a couple of instances. It surprises me time and time again in the book how calm Juan can be. When Juan and Raul are talking the night after the hurricane, Juan keeps checking the stars for their location and reassuring Raul that they will be okay even though they have just been tossed around by a storm and are floating in the middle of the ocean on two inner tubes.

Suhr Response 1

After reading Ben's post I feel that I must disagree with how he pictures Juan. I don't believethat Juan has that much control over his feelings. When Andres swims out to the gun boat, Juan wants to swim out too and help him. If it wasn't for Raul convincing him to stay hidden, he probably would have been shot as well. Another time that Juan lost control of his feelings was when Raul was attacked by the shark. Juan convinces himself that swimming over to Raul will somehow save both of their lives from the shark even though Raul tells him to stay back. Juan is very lucky he wasn't eaten by the shark as well. I believe that Juan should work on having more control over his emotions.

Andrew Doetsch Post 1

I believe that Juan is 2 thirds determined, 1 third desperate. He is willing to take great risks to be with some one that he once loved. He never gave up, even when it seemed all hope was lost, because he loves Carmen he is willing to risk his life to be with her again. That shows that he has great determination. Determination is a charactor trait that anybody making the journey across the Carribian needs to have. I also believes he is desperate. Anybody that ties together a few flimsy innertubes and attemps to cross a 90 mile strech of ocean has to be desperate for a new life. The reason I believe that he is more determined that desperate is because even through the harshest weather and the most disturbing loss, he never gave up hope. His love for Carmen gives him strength, enough to make the passage.

rob cosby response two

After reading Peter's post, I realized just how important Juan's relationships with his two friends really were. Although it seems as if his fears get in the way of his friendships. When Andres was about to be shot, his instincts fought against Raul's decision and told him to save Andres. Yet, he was trembling and was too afraid to go out and save Andres, or possibly get them all killed. Anyways, I agreed with Peter's thoughts.

Peter Post One

As I noted in class, Juan had a genuine concern for both Andrés and Raúl. When Andrés was killed, Juan wanted to have done something, but unlike Raúl, was not so impulsive to do so. It is also mentioned that Juan simply could not get the image of Andrés’ death out of his head in the following hours however he tried. Also, he was amazed when he discovered Raúl had survived the hurricane with him. For a period of time, he simply rejoiced before actually taking into account the situation at hand. Later, when the shark attacked Raúl, he refused to stay away and do nothing even as he was told to by Raúl. If he had simply been concerned for himself, he would have stayed clear of the shark to preserve his own life. Instead he insisted on coming over to try and save Raúl, even though it was futile in the end. Even when he had seen the blood, he returned the raft to the spot of the attack in the unlikely case that Raúl had survived. With both of them gone, he found motivation to continue from the belief that he was getting strength from Raúl’s spirit and that both Raúl and Andrés would have wanted him to continue. Essentially, Juan is not selfish and, rather, was always trying his hardest to save the other two, even though he did not succeed

Ben Horst Response 1

Aubrey made some very good points in her post. However, I disagree with a few. In concordance to my own post, I believe that Juan is a very wise decision maker. When he seems pessimistic, I think he is only acting realistic. During incidents like the ones Juan encountered, anyone would feel pessimistic. After lack of food and water, many days of exposure, the death of a friend, and a natural disaster, I wouldn't be able imagine what to do next. Juan's pessimism only shows that he is aware that he may die. He still greatly hopes that he won't.

Melissa Gurevitch response 1

I agree with Aubrey's response that Juan can be pessamistic. Before she said this i didn't realize how subtlely negative his comments actually were. Like Aubrey I think that he and Raul will have a much easier and enjoyable experience if he looks for the positive in every situation and is more supportive. If he does this, i believe that difficult times would be less stressful and problems would be solved more quickly.

Aubrey Blackstock response one

After reading Grace’s post I agree with the interpretation that Juan is a bit of a dreamer. If Grace hadn’t brought this up, I probably wouldn’t have realized the importance of his dreams. I only saw the dreams as nightmares. His dreams are something entirely different. Juan is dreaming of a goal. His goal by now, is to get to Florida safely and start a new life. Before I thought of it as a goal, but now I can see it in an entirely different perspective!

Rebecca's Post One

In The Lonely Journey of Juan Cabrera, Chapters 5-8, we see various different sides of Juan’s personality. One thing that I’ve learned is that he normally keeps a calm, level head and likes to think things through, though there are exceptions when he panics; when the G-2 was inspecting the car and when Andres sacrifices his life. An example is on page 53, when he repeatedly checks the sky to check their location and assures Raul that they’re still on course. Another time is when Juan is talking to Carmen; he makes sure no one can trace it back to him (page 27). He isn’t spontaneous or the kind of person who acts before they speak. Another thing I learned about Juan is that he deeply remembers and honors his past and heritage, in Chapter 1, after teaching; he drives to the place of his childhood and searches for any remaining sign of the grounds before the army transformed it. He had a vivid flashback about the stories his father told him about life on the sugar plantation and also how his grandparents came to Cuba from Europe to start a new life. I am interested in finding out more about Juan as he continues on his journey.

Ben Horst Post 1

In chapters 5-8, I have discovered that Juan has great control over his feelings. During difficult situations, most people act instinctively and sometimes regret their actions afterward. Throughout Juan's life, he has learned how to analyze a situation and make the best decision, even if it is against his instincts. When Andres was being shot at by the men on the gunboat (pp. 22-23), Juan convinced himself and Raul not to take action. Most people in this situation (including myself) would make an unwise decision before understanding the possible results. Similarly, on page 66, Juan advised Raul not to challenge the shark. Raul did not listen to his advice, and it did not end well for him. This shows that Juan has uncommonly wise judgment in situations such as these. In such intense moments, with adrenaline, excitement, and confusion, making the right decision seems like a daunting task. To make a smart choice, one must take in their surroundings, analyze them, and compile that information to do the right thing. The fact that Juan can do this so well shows that he is smart, calm, and that he has incredible self control.

Aubrey Blackstock post one

As the story goes on we continue to learn more about Juan Cabrera. In chapters 5-8 I learned that faced with a difficult situation, Juan is a little bit of a pessimist. His first thought is always I’m not going to make it. For example on page 44, Juan and Raul have just ridden out the first half of the hurricane and are now sitting idle in the eye. One of Juan’s first questions is “You think we can ride this out?” Juan’s next comment is “Even if we make it, how are we going to survive after everything’s gone?” Later on page 46 Juan tells Raul “Listen If I don’t make it, tell Carmen-“ As the chapter and the event ends he does become a little more optimistic. Still he ask question such as “ Do you think we might be able to catch a fish?” If Juan didn’t have these thoughts he could have made light of the situation. Instead he could have said “ I guess this permits me to learn a new way to fish!” If Juan is going to go to start a new life, he needs to start seeing the glass half full instead of half empty. He is going to have to go with the flow and take more risks. Even after the loss of two friends Juan seems to have a bright future ahead! Hopefully with an optimistic attitude.

rob cosby response one

I agree with Austin's analysis. I also believe that Juan has lots of perseverance and he has shown that by keeping his mind focused on seeing Carmen again. Though he has lost his two dearest friends, he continues drifting along the Gulf Stream on his way to freedom.

rob cosby post one

Through chapters 5-8, I learned that Juan is a very intellectual thinker. He uneasily falls asleep the night that Andres was shot and killed. He dreams and wakes up startled hearing Andres' voice calling out, "Espera, Juan! Por favor, espera!" on page 36. He thought deeply about all the possible outcomes at the moment they spotted the boat approaching them. As he awoke the next day, he was startled by a heavy downpour of rain. As Raul prepares for the storm that has come upon them, Juan begins to wonder about what is about to happen. As they bobbed up and down in the water, Raul was tying the rafts tighter together, while Juan was worrying about dying and the fact that Carmen was the only one that was going to mourn his loss. He was doing all that he could to help Raul, but he was not completely focused on what he was doing. As they both held on and survived the first waves of the hurricane, they found themselves alone in the eye of the hurricane. He seems a little unsure of their future when he stated, "Listen, if I don't make it, tell Carmen-" and was then interrupted by Raul saying, "You'll make it," on page 46. Juan just seems like the kind of guy that is always thinking about something beyond what is right in front of him.

Suhr Post 1

I have learned a lot about Juan Cabrera after reading chapters 5-8. The biggest thing that I have learned is that Juan is a fighter. On pages 38-41 when Juan and Raul are first hit by the hurricane Juan is plunged 10 feet under water! With all of the currents tossing me around and the darkness surrounding me I would have freaked out! Juan, however, is somehow able to hold onto the raft and is rocketed to the surface. Later when Juan and Raul are in the eye of the storm(44-46) they are both able to keep their cool and make preperations and repairs to the raft even with a dark wall of rain and churning waters closing in on them. Juan is able to remain calm when he and Raul are finally plunged back into the chaos of the hurricane. Both he and Raul make it through okay. About a day later Raul is killed by a shark leaving Juan alone in the ocean with only one inner tube left and all of their food gone. But Juan does not give up on his quest for freedom. He climbs back up onto the raft and sails on. Juan's perserverence is shown time and time again in the story and I beleive he will make it to freedom.

Paula: Post One

In chapters 5-8, i learned that Juan has changed from a lying scaredy-cat to a brave fighter. In the beginning of chapter 2, Juan is frightened by the G-2 agent from Social Security. His mouth went dry, his hands were shaking, he felt sick to his stomach, and his legs became weak. In chapter 3, when Juan see's the gunboat, he jumps into the water, staying out of sight. He doesn't try to help his friend, Andres, when he is getting shot at by the men on the boat. Juan starts trembling, but says there's nothing he can do to help. On page 27, he even admits his fear and is ashamed of being so afraid all the time. But this all changes in chapter 8. While Raul and Juan are drifting at sea, they are faced with yet another terrifying problem, a hungry tiger shark. The shark speeds toward the raft, knocking them off into the dangerous ocean, and tears the tube into pieces. Raul tries to save the raft but the shark attacks him. Juan, who is usually afraid, swims toward the shark, and punches him on the gills. Unfortunately, the shark bites Raul in half, making Juan devastated. Juan may have lost a friend, but is no longer a coward. He should be considered a hero, a great fighter, and a good friend.

In chapters 5 - 9 we learn a lot about Juan. In chapter six, when Juan and Raul are in the middle of the storm, it really shows how brave and strong Juan can be when he needs to. On page 38, Juan explains that it "strange weird to be dying with no one to mourn him except carmen" I was not sure if he would have the strength or even attempt to survive. Later though, on page 39 when he realizes that he is still attached to the raft he begins to do everything in his power to survive. All he cares about is staying with the raft and remaining to breathe. This shows that eventhough Juan sometimes seems cowardly, when it really matters he is very brave and strong. Also in this part of the book, you learn how much Raul means to Juan. On page 39, eventhough Juan is in grave danger, instead on only focusing on keeping himself alive he spends a few minuites calling to Raul. Later on page 41, Juan is thinking about how he snapped at Raul before they left and he feels guilty. I believe that sometimes Juan takes a Raul for granted and doesn't realize how good of a friend he is. Learning these things about Juan in this chapter made me realize that there are two sides of him and he doesn't always show how brave he is and how much he cares about Raul

Grace Yi Post One

I feel that Juan is a dreamer. He doesn't always have pleasant dreams (or thoughts, see page 71. he does not want to face whatever his subconscious wants him to see) and he often dreams of stars (page 53), Carmen, and his past. His knowledge also affects his dreams, as he has an education in astronomy and he dreams of the constellations he sees before he falls asleep. Also, on page 36, he dreams of Andres and how he feels paralyzed with fear. I think that his thoughts also have a dreamlike quality. Does anybody else think that? His thoughts on pages 70 and 71 made me feel that way.

Another characteristic of Juan is that he cares very much about those close to him. However this clashes with his fear. He feels extremely guilty when he realizes how his fear affects others (when he blamed Raul for being too slow page 41 and when he prevents Raul from helping Andres-which occurred in chapter three). When Raul had died, he had still felt that he shared a bond with Raul and he felt comfort and confidence from Raul's "spirit" (page 71).

Despite the fact that most of what we see of Juan is fear, there's also other things that make up his personality.

Juan Cabrera Post One

We talked a bit in class about characterization. What do we learn about Juan in Chapters 5-8? Remember to read your classmates' responses and write about something new. Use examples from the text (with page numbers) to support your point.