The Third Chunk of Namesake

As Lahiri continues to take us through the journey of Gogol through his parent's life they are now at the stage where Gogol can go to school and start Kindergarten. Yet again the parents try to change Gogol's pet name to his name Nikhil, but ended up failing because Gogol didn't respond to Nikhil and only to Gogol. At the same time Ashima was once again pregnant and this time gave birth to Gogol's little sister, Sonali, which is a mixture of her pet name and good name, but eventually since she lives in America ends up being known as Sonia.
Sadly this Bengali family from Calcultta has had to learn to adapt to the American style of life and little by little ending up having to let go some of thier heritage. This is sad because after so many years living thier own way and happily throughout ages now in a matter of years has had to change just so that they can fit and still keep living in this society called the "land of the free".

Quote: "Never before has she rejected a piece of her son's art." Pg. 71

Question: If America is suppose to be a refuge for refugees why does it seem that they still have to change thier old ways just to fit in?

Second Chunk of Namesake

In the second part of the text Ashima has given birth to her new baby boy. She lies in the hospital for a couple of days eating Jell-O and ice cream. Though suddenly becomes worried because she has sent word back home to Calcutta that her she had her newly born and was waiting for a response from her grandmother, that never arrived, the grandmother was to name the child as she has done for all her other children. They needed a name in order to place on the certificate of the child in order to leave the hospital to legally register the child. Ashoke then at the last minute chose the name from one of his favorite novels, and so thier son become to be known as Gogol Ganguli.
Eventually Ashima learns that her grandmother had a stroke and has been paralyzed on her right side, and that she is more of a vegetable than a human now, so much that she has forgotten who Ashima is. So being homesick and her grandmother ill plans are made for Decemeber during break to go to Calcutta to visit. Yet this event had to be done sooner for one day in the middle of the night after Gongol had turned one and had his rice ceremony, Ashima recieved a phone call from home giving her the most horrible news anybody could ever recieve. Her dad had died the day before from a heart atttack. So now she's on her way home sooner than anticpated.

Quote: "Dida, I'm coming," Pg. 37

Question: Is knowing when you're going to die better than not knowing when?