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Sixty-nine Cents

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Sixty-nine Cents
Question 1
1a: Profligate means an individual is wasteful in using resources, often spending more than
required.
1b: Monorail a railroad that consists of a single rail. In such a case, the train runs on that one rail.
1c: Condominiums are vast and complex buildings with multiple residential units owned
separately, but the ground owned in partnerships.
1d: Technicolor something containing many vivid colors.
1e: Pliant having calm composure, especially under stressful situations.
1f: fumigated means something of someplace where poisonous gas and fumes have been used to
remove harmful insects or disease-causing bacteria.
Question 2
The phase of Gary's life is facing a multicultural situation. He wanted to fit into his new
environment and be able to do as his fellow agemates were doing. He wanted to have a girlfriend
and communicate without his Russian accent.
The difference between his old and new culture and environments got him complicated.
He wants his parents to adapt to the new culture and normalize things happening in the new
environment. He is torn between joining them or following his way. People develop different
beliefs in life which guide them in their day-to-day activities. Change happens at various stages
of life, and it is good to give in to the adjustments to fit into the way of life. At times, holding on
to old things and beliefs deprives them of chances to do better with their lives and have new
experiences.
Question 3
Shteyngart elaborates on the issues facing younger people in society regarding deciding
which way or cultural practices they should embrace. He elaborates on the awkward scene in his
life trying to fit in a new country. I would restate the moments of shame caused by insufficiency
and lack of bravery to do what I wanted. Redefining my new self in regard to how I wished my
life would turn out in the future, where I wanted to enjoy the good things in life. He wants his
essay to reach out to those who hold to specific standards in life. The people who find it had to
allow a change in any aspect of life and teach them that different environments call for other
adaptations. Younger people can be affected a lot in cases of change as there are many things
they need to explore before settling for a particular way of conducting things. Parents should be
able to encourage their children in such situations and help them make the right decision
according to the environment and phase of life.
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Question 4
"I was my parent's son" means that Gary had adopted his parents' behaviors regarding
financial spending. His parents, immigrants from Russia, still held the culture of sparingly
spending instead of embracing the American culture. On their way back from vacation, they
stopped at A McDonald's. He was excited to taste the food only to release that his parents and
their friends had packed lunch; to him, this was wrong. He had some coins in his pocket, which
he could have used to buy himself the sixty-nine-cent hamburger and a coca- cola as he wanted
to eat from McDonald's more often. However, despite having the coins, he could not purchase
the food. According to his parents going to restaurants and buying clothes not sold by weight on
Orchard are things done only by the wealthy and extravagant.