Neighbours

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.

The young couple's house is described as small, but it has high ceilings and paned windows that give it the feel of an elegant cottage. The young man can see the Moreton Bay figs in the park from his study window.

b. How did the young couple identify their neighbours in the beginning of their arrival?

The young couple identified their neighbours by their nationalities.

c. How did the neighbours help the young couple in the kitchen garden?

The neighbours helped the young couple in the kitchen garden by offering advice about spacing, hilling, and mulching. The big woman with black eyes and butcher's arms gave the young woman a bagful of garlic cloves to plant. The Polish widower also rebuilt the young couple's henhouse.

d. Why were the people in the neighborhood surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their family?

The people in the neighborhood were surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their family because they had not planned on a pregnancy so early.

e. How did the neighbours respond to the woman’s pregnancy?

The neighbours responded to the woman's pregnancy with surprise, as it was unexpected.

f. Why did the young man begin to weep at the end of the story?

The young man began to weep at the end of the story because he felt overwhelmed by the sudden changes in his life, such as the birth of his child and the interference of the neighbours.

g. Why do you think the author did not characterize the persons in the story with proper names?

The author did not characterize the persons in the story with proper names to emphasize the idea that the story is about the general experience of newcomers in a neighborhood, rather than the specific individuals.

Reference to the context

a. The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacle in human relationship. Cite some examples from the story where the neighbours have transcended such barriers.

In the story, the young couple and their neighbors were able to form a close bond despite linguistic and cultural barriers. Some examples of this include:

• The young couple and the Macedonian family sharing a common love of music and dancing, despite not speaking the same language. They would often play music together and dance in the young couple's living room.
• The widower from Poland, who helped the young couple with household repairs and gardening despite not speaking the same language.
• The young couple and their neighbors often communicated through gestures and facial expressions, showing that language is not necessary for understanding and friendship.
• The young couple learning Macedonian and Polish language from their neighbors and also teaching them English.

b. The last sentence of the story reads “The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for this.” In your view, what differences did the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human relations?

The young man in the story likely found that the relationships between his neighbors were much more complex and nuanced than those portrayed in twentieth-century novels. In novels, characters and their relationships are often simplified and reduced to easily recognizable stereotypes, whereas in reality, people's backgrounds, cultures, and experiences are much more varied and can lead to unexpected connections and interactions. The young man may have also found that the relationships he formed with his neighbors were not limited by linguistic or cultural barriers as he had initially expected, and that people are capable of transcending these barriers to form genuine connections with one another.

c. A Nepali proverb says “Neighbors are companions for wedding procession as well as for funeral procession.” Does this proverb apply in the story? Justify.

This proverb applies in the story as the neighbours in the story were companions for the young couple during both happy and difficult times. For example, the Macedonian family helped the young couple when they were moving in and the Polish widower helped them when they were going through a difficult time. The neighbours were present to celebrate the birth of the young couple's child and also to mourn the death of their cat. The proverb highlights the importance of having good relations with one's neighbours and this is evident in the story.

d. The author has dealt with an issue of multiculturalism in the story. Why do you think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world?

Multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world because of the increasing number of people who are moving to different countries due to various reasons such as economic opportunities, political instability, and war. This has led to an increase in cultural diversity in many countries, which has brought both benefits and challenges. One of the challenges is dealing with the cultural differences and conflicts that can arise between different groups of people, particularly in areas such as language, religion, and customs. Additionally, with the rise of nationalist movements, there is a growing sentiment that traditional cultures are under threat, which has led to a pushback against multiculturalism. Other factors that have contributed to the growing importance of multiculturalism include globalization, which has brought people of different cultures into contact with one another, and the increased awareness of human rights, which has led to a greater understanding of the need to respect cultural diversity.

Reference beyond the text

a. Write an essay on Celebration of Childbirth in my Community.

In my community, the celebration of childbirth is a joyous and highly anticipated event. The arrival of a new baby is seen as a blessing and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by family members, friends, and the entire community.

The celebration typically begins with the birth of the child, where the parents and family members are overjoyed with the arrival of the new baby. The mother and child are then taken to the family's home, where they are greeted with traditional songs and dances by the community. This is followed by a feast, where family and friends gather to share in the joy and celebration of the new arrival.

One of the most important aspects of the celebration is the naming ceremony. This is typically held a few days after the birth and is a formal event where the child is officially given a name. The naming ceremony is usually performed by a respected elder in the community, who blesses the child and gives them a name that is significant to the family and community.

In addition to the naming ceremony, there are also other traditional rituals that are performed to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the child. These may include blessings from religious leaders, the tying of a thread or amulet around the child's wrist, and the planting of a tree to symbolize growth and strength.

b. Do the people in your community respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story? Give a couple of examples.

In my community, people respond to the news of pregnancy with excitement and joy. They offer congratulations and well wishes to the expectant parents, and often offer to help with errands or provide meals during the pregnancy. They may also bring small gifts or tokens of good luck to the expectant parents.

During childbirth, the community gathers around the mother and her family to offer support and prayers. They may also prepare traditional foods and sweets to be served to visitors who come to congratulate the new parents. On the seventh day after the birth, a traditional naming ceremony is held for the newborn baby. Relatives and friends gather to offer their blessings and to suggest names for the baby. The baby is then named in a ceremony that is often led by an elder or a religious leader.

These reactions are similar to those depicted in the story, where the community comes together to celebrate and support the new parents during pregnancy and childbirth.