In New York, 'Horror Stories' and Halloween
October 27, 2006
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6383389
When Juliet Jegasothy came to the United States from Sri Lanka, she had already heard many stories about what life was like in America.
"We came to America in 1969, we were just newly married, and we came to Brooklyn, New York." Jegasothy recently told her friend Sheena Jacob.
"I was so terrified to even open the door, because I had heard all these horror stories about crooks, and gangsters, and guns, in New York."
Jegasothy soon encountered an American tradition that she was not prepared for.
She was home alone with her baby daughter one night when the doorbell started ringing. She looked through the peephole, Jegasothy says, and saw a "really scary person standing outside. So I didn't open the door."
But the ringing didn't stop. One by one, people rang her doorbell. Then a whole group rang, and stood outside, Jegasothy says, "screaming at me through the door." She called her husband, who was working on his internship and residency at Coney Island Hospital."There's something happening, there's some crooks or somebody trying to frighten me at the door."
Don't go to the door, her husband, Brian, said. And try to stay quiet.
So she sat in the bedroom trying to keep her daughter quiet, says Jegasothy -- who admits to having a history as a "wimp." People kept ringing the bell for about another hour. Jegasothy says she was "sweating, and ready to die, almost."
Finally, around 9 p.m., her husband called back.
"I think," he said, "there's something called Halloween going on today, and that's what's been happening: People are supposed to ring the doorbell."
Jegasothy says she has never forgotten about how she became acquainted with the holiday. And her daughter, she says, "loves Halloween" to this day.
This story was produced for 'Morning Edition' by Michael Garofalo. The senior producer for StoryCorps is Sarah Kramer.
# Summary
This is story about person who newly come America like me. They don't know when halloween is. In halloween, some people who has costume push her house's bell for candys. That time, she think that so scary people stand in front of her door. But now she so love this holiday.
# Reation
This Saturday is halloween in America. So, when I read this article, I'm so exciting. And I looking forward to enjoying my first halloween. I can scare like this story's her. But I expect that time. Tomorrow, we have party in TIEP. I think this party is so interesting, too!! I expect this party too!!
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Oh no! Sophie! That poor woman...she was probably so scared! I'm glad you knew about Halloween before that night;). Did you get to give out candy? Did you wear a costume?
ReplyDeleteGood reaction & summary.
Hi Sophie, I think if this happened for me before I didn't know about Halloween day I will be afraid,feel frightened and scared and maybe I'll die! ;)
ReplyDeleteBut really the Halloween day was so funny.
That shows that some hollidays are strange for many people. In Colombia we celebrate the "inocents day" in december 28. That day many people makes jokes to the other people and only this day it´s normal. Maybe it´s very strabge for people of other countries.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie ! You choose very intersting article. When I was young, I saw some people who were wearing scary costume in Korea hotel. Maybe that day was Halloween. But That time I didn't know about Halloween, so I'm really scard. At that reason, I can understand her situation enough.
ReplyDeleteHi sophie. It's Heather. Your article summary and reaction are so great!! In article, the woman is like me. I totally agree in article's woman. At first I'm really suprised about Halloween, because in Korean never do like Holloween. But last friday, in the TIEP, I was so excitied and fun. So now I love Holloween too!
ReplyDeleteHi sophie. it's ahmed. I really like your article and your reaction... I agree with you in your reaction because the same thing happend to me...Finally I wish you enjoy your stay in the united states of america...
ReplyDelete