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1. What were Claire and Clemantine's lives like in 2006?

In 2006, Claire lived in public housing in Edgewater with the three kids she had before she was 22. Her ex-husband was an aid worker who had pursued her at a refugee camp. Clemantine was 18 and a junior at New Trier High School. She lived with the Thomas family in Kenilworth, a fancy suburb, Monday through Friday. She belonged to the church youth group, ran track, and had a part in a school play. She stayed with her sister on the weekends.

2. What jobs did Claire have when they came to the United States?

For a while Claire made a living throwing parties, selling drinks, and hiring DJs who mixed American hip-hop, the Zairean superstar Papa Wemba, and French rap. Then she learned it was illegal to sell liquor without a license. Then she started working full-time as a maid, cleaning 200 hotel rooms a week.

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