Summary

Part III: Alabama – Ha and her family move to Alabama where the cowboy, Mr. Johnston, welcomes them happily. His wife is not as welcoming. Ha’s mother tells her children to forget their old life, and focus on the future in America, including mastering English. The family finds it difficult to adjust to American food. Their experience with Kentucky Fried Chicken is unpleasant, since they are used to fresh-killed chickens from their backyard.

The family later moves into a house on Princess Ann Road at the expense of the American government, which Quang attributes to guilt over losing the war. Ha’s mother tells him that people living on others’ goodwill cannot have such opinions. At the new house, the family marvels at things like the gas stove and the shower. Ha’s mother also writes to her husband’s brother in North...