Week 3

Love in the time of Cholera takes place in South America. A true epic love story! This is a story about two people who are in love with each other their whole lives. Two people who are unable to be with each other because Fermina's father forbids it. Fermina's father went to extreme measures to make sure that they were not together. This epic story follows their lives apart and the dramatic reunion. When they were young they vowed to love each other forever.
Florentino and Fermina fall in love at first sight. They secretly exchange love letters. Fermina's father forbids this relationaship and wants more for his daughter. Florentino asks Fermina to marry him and she says yes. The father disapproves and threatens Florentino. When Florentino refuses to stay away, he takes Fermina far away into the mountains to stay with her cousin. Florentino awaits her return to only have her say to forget the relationaship that she now realizes that it was just an illusion that has clouded her eyes. Florentino is crushed, but refuses to give up his dream of winning her hand...even if it means waiting decades.

Fermina becomes ill and is examined by a respected doctor. This doctor ends up asking her father to marry her and she accepts.Florentino continues to yearn for Fermina. He follows her where so goes so that he can see and be close to her. Sometimes years may go by before he gets the chance to see her, but remains in love with her.
Florentino begins having sex with several women to help him forget the pain of Fermina, but without success. Even though he has numerous women, he still yearns for Fermina's love. He states that life is strong, don't give up.

Fermina finds out that her husband is having an affair. Despite this she remains with him until his death. On the day of his funeral, Florentino confronts Fermina that he has waited for this day, Fifty-one years, nine months and four days, so that he may have her love again. She is furious how he could be so unthoughtful at a time like this. He continues to write her and she eventually gives in. She agrees to take a boat cruise with Florentino in which that is where they rekindle their relationship. They make love and he tells her that he wants things to stay like this forever! His life is FULFILLED!........

How Freire and Florentino compare I would say is their passion. The willingness to stay true to what you love and believe in. Also, the simplicity that both men share. And how this dedication can transcend across borders. Love knows no boundries.

10 Classmates Week #3
1. Brian-I agree with your terminology that: I believe that everyone can teach someone else something new they did not know before.

2. Chris-Brillantly said-sometimes a little extra background radiation at conception, pure determination, and a good teacher can do more than just a bank account with a few extra zeroes. By that belief, if we don’t give all people a chance to succeed with an education, we’re selling ourselves short as a species.

3. Victoria-My father always told me,"knowledge is power, grasp it, take it in your arms and hold it tight, learn from it". Your father is a smart man!

4. Raquel-I could not have said it better! All human beings are capable of knowledge; they just need to be given the opportunity to exploit that capability; Freire gave that opportunity to a lot of people and his contribution not only education, but society is indelibe.

5. Marylou-Freire taught 300 sugarcane workers to read and write in 45 days. This gave these people the right to vote. This is so empowering for people who just so recently didn't even know how to read. AWESOME!

6. Marissa-the sense of simplicity from this amazing man. Exactly, he used his brillance and power to educate the poor. This is what makes him an amazing man. He could have used it to be rich, nice houses ,cars, etc. He chose to help people. VERY ADMIRABLE!
7. Katherine-Great concept...When students are forced to receive, memorize, and repeat what the teacher says, it creates a robot-like environment that stifles new ideas and freedom of learning. Freire believed that rather than forcing people to assimilate into the present system, individuals should be allowed to create new theories and knowledge.

8. Daniel-Good point! It's much easier to be able to face a problem, knowing that another has been through it, and faced it with good end results, and be able to associate that with success, then to just say you have a problem, get demoralized, and let it end there.

9. Andrea-Most of us probably just take this for granted-Freire worked as a labor lawyer for the poor. After trying to have a conversation with some workers he came to realize that his comments were not understood by many of those who were listening. One of the workers told him, “You talk from a background of food, comfort, and rest. The reality is that we have one room, no food, and have to make love in front of the children.” After hearing this and further experience and study he started to realize that poor people had a different sense of what was real to them. In order to talk to and have them understand what he was saying he would have to use their syntax of meaning.

10. Aloma-Interesting comment-Freire wrote that the existing system of Haves and Have-Nots dehumanizes BOTH sides. The oppressor marginalizes the oppressed: they have not worked hard enough to deserve the material things that bring material happiness and are therefore a lesser quality of human. The oppressed, without a clear view of his oppression, blames his status on the wrong cause. The oppressed wants the things the oppressor has, wants the oppressor’s status, and wants to become the oppressor. While the oppressed become dehumanized by their status, the act of oppression dehumanizes those who practice it. The oppressor convinces the oppressed that their circumstances are alterable only with the intervention of the ruling class.