Finally, Efforts Bore Fruit

What's New

Wallace got to know Caitlin's family. Martin took the SAT's and didn't get a great score. Martin graduated from Marist Brothers and went to live with Wallace's family until Caitlin gets his scholarship. Caitlin's Mom finally convinced sister Barbara and Martin got his scholarship. He arrived to the US and everyone received him. Caitlin Marrried and had a daughter. Martin started working at a pizza restaurant and got money to pay a house for his family in Zimbabwe. Lois, Martin's youngest sister was being the best student at school and Martin Promised to help her get into University in the US.

Hidden Messages Inside the Book

" 'Guys,' I said, interrupting their fun, 'I'd be happy at any of these palces. I just need one to say yes to a full scholarchip' " (Welch 322).

 Martin didn't want toget happy without knowing if he'd been accepted in the universities with full scholarchip.

"HEARING CAITLIN SAY 'YOU MADE IT' when we first embraced made me realize this was real" (Welch 377).

It must be like a dream for Martin to be in the US. For so many years he dream about it, but know it was a reality

"It took some time, but finally I was able to save enough to buy my parents a new house in Mutare (Welch 387).

One thing that I like about Martin's personality is that when he gets what he wants, he does not stop there, instead, he tries to find ways to help his family and repay Caitlin's family

What I Learned

This is a book that talks about a true story. It is impressive how poor people are in the world. These people don't realize what they do not have, they are vary unfortunate. If Caitlin would have not met Martin, maybe he would still be poor.

Advansing

What's New

With his great scores, Martin was admitted in Marist Brothers, the best college in South Africa. Martin had to pay his colleague by himself, but he could not pay it, thankfully, the Delta Corporation offered to pay his education. This school was like an internee and was also far away from Zimbabwe, so Martin's family had to be away from him and they could only see each other in vacations. One vacation, Martin's mom got really sick, (Malaria and Cholera) but with Caitlin's money, she was cured and did not die. Wallace, a friend at Marist Brothers was admitted at a university in U.S. Pennsylvania and Martin gave him the address to Caitlin's family. Caitlin and her family where searching for admissions for Martin in U.S. Universities and he was about to take the SAT's.

I really want to know what happens next

Hidden Messages Inside the Book

"I remained quiet. I had nothing left to say. ' I'm on the board of this company, and they offer scholarships,' he explained, handing me a piece of official stationery that said DELTA CORPORATION 

I was trembling as I read the note:

Dear Sir: 

  This is to inform you that Martin Ganda is a recipient of the Delta 2001 Scholarship Award for two years up to A-level exams.

  Kindly send the school invoice for the whole year for the above named student. Payment will be made directly to the school

  Thank you for your assistance.

                                                                                                      Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                     G.T. Mutendadzamera

                                                                                                     Corporate Affairs Manager

( Welch  259).
Martin deserves this kind of price because of all his effort. His education was being paid by a corporation, Martin thought that this day, he was going to be kicked out of Marist Brothers because of lack of payment, instead he got a full scholarship. Caitlin was also great help because without her, Martin would have never been able to finish school.

"' I called sister Barbara today in Thais financial aid office and told Her about Martin' she explained ' And she just cut me off and said : -We don't offer financial aid to internetional students-, which I know isn't true because I hay several friends who where there on scholarships from different countries'" (Welch 296).

Caitlin's mom is trying to get Martin a full scholarship for university, but it's difficult. Everyone should be treated equally, I mean why do other kids that are less desperate get the scholarship? Sometimes, when we hear about harsh stories we don't listen to them until we see for ourselves how terrible they are. Sister Barbara was ignoring Martin's case.

What I Learned

I think that the good things we do are paid back by life. Martin really needed a recompense for helping his family and always studying hard for them. He is very lucky that Caitlin apeared because she has been a great support. This book almost comes to an end and so far it has been really interesting.

Benefited from Friendship

What's New

Both Caitlin and Martin where better after they started being friends, Martin received help from Caitlin who basically sent money each month to maintain his family, and also Caitlin started becoming a better person and understanding that she is lucky. She now saw her friend's problems as an exaggeration and understood girls from her school that where bothered. Once,  people started doubting about Martin, but very soon, people found out that Caitlin's friend was a very good person. Martin was able to continue with school and he got the best grade in all south africa at the O levels quiz, he could have a great future.

How I felt about Caitlin's attitude

Hidden Messages Inside the Book

How Martin and his family probably felt about his score :)

"People could still tell me stuff, but I wouldn't take it on. Instead, I'd say 'That's too bad.' Or, 'I'm so sorry you feel that way.' The only person I was willing to expend any emotional energy on was Martin" (Welch 158).

Here is evidence about how Caitlin attitude changed when she started to know about Martin's problems. Maybe, if these two friends had never met, Caitlin would be a totally different person. Her school friends had problems such as what to wear in a party while Martin didn't know for how much longer he would have food.

" Thanks to Caitlin, we ate chicken for Christmas that year, a miracle considering what our friends and neighbors were experiencing" (Welch 162).

It is very good to help people in need because the impact we cause in thair lifes is good and huge, no matter how small our action is. Also, we have to be supportive because we don't know what people are going throught. Sometimes, problems shape the way people act. Anyone can be passing throught a hard situation and we need to be comprehensive, even people we are very close to like friends have problems we don't know about.

What I Learned

I think that Martin will be accepted in a great college. Maybe, this will also help his family. This way, Caittlin will be paying less to Martin's family. I hope this happens next,n the O level grades are a very good thing that will help the characters in the book.

A Bigger Friendship

What's New

Caitlin and Martin kept sending each other letters. Caitlin Sent pictures, t-shirts and gifts in her writings. The two became best friends. Martin was always trying to write back on his letters tough his economic situation was always getting worse. With all the presents, Martin could only asure that he would always write back. Martin had to drop out of school because of the fees. Caitlin helped with her babysitting money, her family also sent money for the rest of Martin's brothers. Since Zimbabwe was a very poor country, it was very difficult to send money because people would steal it

What I thought when I saw how generous they where with each other

Hidden Messages in the Book

"In hindsight, I'm almost ashamed of how ridiculous my teen dramas were. I had no idea what Martin was going through because he never let on. Instead, he responded to my silly stories and never said much about his own life" (Welch 89). 

Sometimes, we make our daily problems that are not so big seem giant, while other people suffer from bigger issues. Martin didn't have school, while Caitlin had everything.

"It was Z$550 per student, roughly twenty American dollars, a fortune for many. Still,most of those kids didn't care about school-for me, it painful to leave.

      As I gathered my things, my mind was racing: I had to get back to school as quickly as possible" (Welch 91). 

Martin was a very dedicated and determined kid, I am sure that he will become a great student with Caitlin's help

What I Learned

Martin is very lucky to have Caitlin's support, especially in a crisis. I think that maybe, next Martin's father will get a better job and that his family's economic situation will improve. This is what I infer because of the information in the back of the book.

The Letter

What's New

Caitlin was a girl from Pensylvania. Martin was a boy from Zimbabwe. One day, at school, Caitlin's teacher told everyone in the class about a penpal project they where going to do with kids in other countries. There was lots of countries to choose from and Caitlin choose Zimbabwe. That night, Caitlin started to write a letter to  kids in Africa . When the letter was received, not everyone in the class could have the priviledge to read it because not a lot of american students had written to Zimbabwe, only the good students had the priviledgde of reading the letter out loud. Martin ganda was one of the priviledged ones; he was the best student in his class because being a bad student was not an option for him. His mother was also the best student, but since her family was very poor, she had to leave school, now the family was also poor, but thankfully, it could afford education. Martin and Caitlin started writing letters to each other more frequently.

Hidden Messages in the Book

"My mother was  smart, but she had to drop out of school when she was twelve because her parents could not afford the fees. My parents where also poor, but at least I was still in school. I promised her that I would always work as hard as possible (Welch 15). 

Martin had a very hard life, but he always made his best effort. The author wants to show that you always have to make the best you can because there are others that can't afford what you have.

"'Mai', I said one day as my stomach groaned from hunger. 'Let's use Caitlin's money for groceries.'

She shook her head. 'That is for your future, Martin,' she said. 

'Our future is now,' I explained.

She reluctantly agreed, and then climbed on top of her bed to get the dollar from the box

 We went to  the ost office to exchange it. The teller did not even check any charts or use a calculator.

'One American dollar is twenty-four Zim dollars,' she said" (Welch 51).

In one of his messages, Martin asked Kaitlin for a us dollar to see how it looked and told her that in response he would give her one zim dollar. With one us dollar, Martin could buy food for one week.

What I learned

We have to be thankfull for what we have and make our best effort. In this case, Caitlin has helped Martin a lot and they have just met. I think that this relationship will go stronger during the book. I think Caitlin and Martin will become best friends