In the last few classes we have been using the case study book named the Reluctant Fundamentalist. It looked at themes of memory, alienation of the individual and was a cultural memory to the people of the time. Usually I would not connect to the feeling intended from the piece of work chosen in class. This novel actually made me think about the main charter, his choices and conflicting that he had within him and especially how it changed him. It connects to themes of nationalism that I look at in History. It was especially interesting how quickly he started to change once his social circle and love life fell apart. He also begins to casually influence the american that he is sitting with. The more that we start to see him explain his life, subtle clear motivations are said in an effort to have people empathize for his story. More interesting is that there are so many external factors that have also affected him. The alienation he felt in the USA for the lack of financial means, and later for border control not believing he lived in the USA. His colleagues left him leaving him further alienated,  his facial hair made those around him even more uncomfortable and left him ready to leave. I think his entire experience will one day be part of a cultural memory for members of alienated orientations as they will know the struggle of not being fully accepted because of a certain belief. There may not be many physical signs but the shared memory and experience will always be there.