JUSUN
Ciela and Ray
Ciela and Ray share a quiet, natural friendship. It is not formal or dependent. Ray gently guides her in gardening, but does not control her. He is more a calm, stable presence that helps her adjust to a new environment.
“Just because someone gives you something, you don’t need to accept it” means you have choice and boundaries. A “gift” can also be expectations, pressure, or ideas about how you should live. You are not obligated to accept them.
Yes, I can relate to this advice in my own life. I worked in my previous company for five years and became a vice general manager. My boss once suggested that I go to the US to study for an MBA, but I realized it was more like a transition plan rather than a long-term opportunity for me. After careful consideration, I decided not to accept it and resigned instead. I then started my own business, which better matched my long-term goals.
“The garden was never mine,” said Ray. Why did he say it? What is the significance of it?
Ray is a gardener, but he does not regard the garden as something that “belongs” to him. What he is expressing is that nature, gardens, and plants are not objects to be owned, but a living system that people care for and participate in.
Ray is more like a caretaker or companion. He puts in the work, but he does not claim the results as personal property.
Implicitly, what he is saying is: Some things do not need to “belong” to you for you to truly exist within them and take part in them. 
YEN-TING
Ciela being treated as if she is a young child 
I think Mrs. Danforth is very kind with Ciela, but she never tried to understand what Ciela needs. She just uses her own way to treat her. Sometimes people help others, but they forget to listen to their own voice.
I have experience from my parents. My parents always treated me like a child. They got involved in my life too much even when I was an adult. I love them, but they never asked me what I needed, so sometimes we had arguments on this. I think every child has their own life. They need to try more by themselves, and if they get lost, it is not bad because that will understand themselves better and will find out what they really like.
Why did Ray give Ciela seeds?
I think Ray gave Ciela seeds because he hopes she can create her own garden. Seeds represent “hope.” The flowers in the garden are not only pretty, but they also mean you can make your life beautiful and don’t need to rely on other people. VASILII
Why did Ray give Ciela seeds?
I think Ray giving Ciela seeds was a very powerful symbol. For me, the seeds represented a new beginning, hope, and personal growth. It was not only about gardening. I think Ray wanted Ciela to remember that life can grow again, even after difficult experiences. In some ways, I can relate this to immigrants.
When we move to a new country, it feels like we plant new seeds in completely unfamiliar soil. We begin a new life, learn a new language, adapt to a new culture, and take our first difficult steps.
At the beginning, everything feels hard and uncertain, just like a small seed under the ground, but if we are patient and strong enough to break through the soil, nobody can stop us. Step by step, we keep watering those seeds through hard work, education, and experience until they grow into something much bigger.
For me, Ray’s gift was a message to never stop growing, even when life feels difficult!
“Just because someone gives you something, you don’t need to accept it.” Can you relate to Ray’s advice?
For most of my life, people around me often tried to tell me how I should live my life. They gave me advice about how to behave, what decisions to make, and even what profession I should choose because they believed it would be better for me.
Later, when I decided to change my career, many people told me I was making a mistake. They said, “Why are you leaving everything? You are already successful. Just continue what you are doing.” But deep inside, I felt that I wanted something different. I am a creative person, and freedom is very important to me. I always want to grow, improve myself, and try to build a better future.
I think Ray’s advice is meaningful because sometimes people give advice with good intentions, but only YOU truly know what feels right for your own life. Sometimes you need to trust yourself, even if others do not understand your decision. ANNA M.
Ciela being treated as if she is a young child
Yes, I can relate to Ciela’s situation. Since I moved to the United States, I have been learning English, and sometimes it is still difficult for me to communicate. Because of the language barrier, there were situations when people treated me like I did not fully understand things or could not express myself well. It made me feel uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassed. Language challenges were definitely part of the situation. I try to deal with it by continuing to study English and practicing every day. Little by little, I am becoming more confident speaking English.
“The garden was never mine,” said Ray. What did he mean?
Ray said this because he understood that nothing truly belongs to us forever. The garden was something he cared for and loved, but he knew he could not control everything in life. I think the garden also symbolizes freedom, peace, and hope. Ray wanted Ciela to understand that she should not feel trapped by other people’s expectations. The quote is important because it teaches us to let go and accept change.
Manzanar 
During World War II, many Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. government was afraid that Japanese Americans might help Japan, even though most of them were innocent. Families had to leave their homes, businesses, and possessions very quickly. Many lost everything they owned.
Manzanar was one of the camps. It was located in a desert area in California and was surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers. More than 10,000 people lived there in crowded barracks with little privacy. The weather was very harsh, with extremely hot summers, cold winters, and strong dust storms.
Even though life was difficult, people tried to create normal lives. They worked, built gardens, started schools, churches, newspapers, and sports programs. I learned that Japanese Americans suffered unfairly because of prejudice and fear. It was a sad part of American history, and it shows why protecting people’s rights is very important.
CELI
Ray says to her, “Just because someone gives you something, you don’t need to accept it.” Can you relate to that advice in your personal life?
Ray was the first friend she found when she moved to live with her sister, and he became her friend and advisor. About the phrase “Just because someone gives you something, you don’t need to accept it.” I have several thoughts about it –
Sometimes it is not bad to accept gifts or nice details that other people do for us, because in the end they are things life gives us and we deserve them. But I also know that sometimes people give us things with bad intentions, or if someone gives me something, I may feel like I have to be grateful to that person forever or pay them back in the future. That has happened to me before, so we have to know how to identify what kind of person is giving us something and with what intention they are doing it.
the importance of saying “THANK YOU”
I say thank you for everything and to everyone. I believe in the power of saying THANK YOU. It is a beautiful word, and I believe that when you are grateful, more beautiful things come into your life. EVGENY
Why did Ray give Ciela a packet of seeds?
Ray saw that she showed interest in his work. Perhaps it was a symbolic gesture – now it was also her land, where she could “grow” her future. By planting the seeds, Ciela shows that she accepts this future.
Manzanar
During WWII, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. sent more than 110,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps. One of the most famous camps was Manzanar, California. About 60% of them were U.S. citizens by birth, but they were forced to leave their homes, businesses within a week because of fear and suspicion during the war.
Life in Manzanar was very difficult. Families lived in small barracks surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers. The camp was located in a desert area with hot summers and cold winters. People tried to create a normal life by opening schools and growing gardens.
In 1988, the U.S officially apologized to former prisoners and offered financial compensation of $20K to each surviving person who had been imprisoned in the camps. Most former prisoners accepted the compensation, but a small number of people refused it. However, for many Japanese Americans, the official recognition of injustice was more important than the money itself. IRENE
Ciela being treated as if she is a young child
When I came to America, I was 33 years old. I moved to my cousin’s house in Staten Island. And it was a hard time for me because my cousin treated me as if I were a child. It looked like I was obliged to let her know about all my moves. I didn’t have any money and a job at that time and she answered me about every dollar that I spent on transport or any food that she gave me. If I was late and didn’t come at home at 8 pm, she would be very nervous and angry.
I didn’t see a different way to stop it than just looking for a job and finding a new place to live and rent my own room. When I moved to my own room in Brooklyn, my cousin told me that my decision was wrong, disrespectful and selfish, but I think that was he best decision in my life. And the language was part of this situation too.
All the time my cousin told me: I thought that you can speak English, but now I see that you just spend time trying to learn English! You make so many mistakes! As a result I just could not say a word in English my first 2 months here.
But I just did not give up, I worked hard and now I can speak! This experience showed me how important it is to have anyone who believes that YOU CAN and YOU SHOULD try!
“Just because someone gives you something, you don’t need to accept it.” Can you relate to Ray’s advice?
I think that the relationship between Ray and Ciela can be described as mentor-student relationship with a protective bond, but Ray treated her as a equal. And I think the phrase that Ray told Ciela it is very important and with deep meaning because sometimes accepting help isn’t only about receiving something.
Sometimes someone can make an offer to us without respect. Some people may act as if they are superior and give us help. And if we accept that, we can lose our self-respect. So that is way Ray’s words are an important reminder that we are not obligated to accept everything. BELLA
The interview with Victoria Canal, the actress who plays Ciela
I watched the video about Victoria Canal and her story really touched me.
I learned that even when life is difficult, people can still stay strong and confident. As an immigrant in a new country, sometimes I also feel insecure because of language and new challenges, so her story inspired me not to give up.
Ciela being treated as if she is a young child
Yes, I had situations when people treated me differently because my English is not perfect. Sometimes at work people speak too fast or think I don’t understand them. At first it made me nervous, but now I try to stay calm and confident. Every day my English gets better, and these situations make me stronger.
Why did Ray give Ciela seeds?
I think Ray gave Ciela seeds because seeds symbolize hope and a new beginning. I can relate to that because when people move to a new country, they also try to grow a new life step by step. Planting the seeds at the end shows that Ciela is ready to move forward and start something new. MARIIA K.
The interview with Victoria Canal, the actress who plays Ciela
Yes, her message really spoke to me. I learned that people with disabilities also want to live a normal and full life, but sometimes society looks at them differently first.
In my life I met some disabled people and I think everything is really like Victoria described in the video. These people usually try even more and want to be same like everybody else. They do not like when people feel sorry for them or call them disabled all the time. I also met people who wanted to prove that they are strong. And first of all, they are strong inside and strong in spirit.
Many of them also show how strong and talented they are by achieving big success in life. For example, some people participate in the Paralympic Games, which are international sport competitions for people with disabilities. I think this is very inspiring and shows strong character.
This video also made me think about how little we really need for happiness. Sometimes only when we lose really important things, like health, we truly understand the value of it. I think all other problems in life can be solved, as long as we have health.
Ciela being treated as if she were a young child
Yes, I had a situation like this in my life after moving abroad. At that time my English was very bad (very very bad) and I almost did not speak it. I always asked my husband to call somewhere, ask questions to people for me, or help me understand people in English. Honestly, I never felt so helpless before in my life.
The first year after moving was very difficult for me, because only when you move to another country do you really understand how important English language is. You need it everywhere – in the store, in the hospital, even for simple conversations on the street. Sometimes I felt like people saw me like a child because I could not explain myself normally.
I am very thankful for that period to my husband, because he was always patient and understanding with me. I am also grateful to many people in America and England, because people often tried to help me, repeat words slowly, and explain things with a smile and kindness.
Now I understand that language is not only about words. It also gives you confidence and independence. This experience made me stronger and motivated me to continue improving my English every day. OLEG
Ciela and Ray
Ciela and Ray have a nice and quiet friendship. Ray is kind to her and gives her good advice. He teaches her to be strong and independent. I can relate to Ray’s advice. Sometimes people give me things or help, but I don’t have to accept everything. I need to decide what is good for me.
The importance of saying “THANK YOU”
In my life, my parents always told me to say, “Thank you.” I say thank you often because it is polite, but sometimes I forget when I am in a hurry or thinking about other things.
Saying thank you is important. It makes people feel good. I will try to remember to say it more.