One topic that I found very interesting is the struggles that Asian Americans have faced in the past and present. I never knew about the struggles that were happening in places like China and Laos. I never realized how many families came from poverty and violence. I learned only very little about historical events like Vietnam. I am only now becoming more aware of the human rights problem in China. I'm so used to seeing places like Tokyo, Japan, in movies and on television. Everything looks so clean and the city is lit up with bright lights and beautiful buildings at night. Before this course, I thought most Asians lived this kind of life. I didn't even know these events happened and I was amazed by some of the things Asians have had to deal with over the years. Another theme that came up quite a bit was when people try to guess another person's personality. I remember many Asian interviewees wishing people would simply ask what nationality they were instead of trying to guess. I can relate to this because I actually don't just look like one nationality. I don't think people do it to try to be rude. Sometimes people may not realize that what they are doing is offensive. Everyone has been guilty of this at some point in their life. It was nice to be reminded that it's much nicer to ask a person their ethnicity instead of trying to guess. The last theme was how different and similar the lifestyles of many of the interviewees were. Some have tried to preserve and truly practice their parents' culture. Others followed their own path and tried to live their own lifestyle. It was also interesting how different the social classes were that originally came from... middle of paper... they experienced how grateful they can be for something that isn't so nice. Many people have nothing when they come to America and it is refreshing to see people appreciate the few things they have. This statement reminds me how lucky I am to have the things I have. “The Hmong came to America without a homeland. From the beginning we knew we were looking for a house. Other people, in moments of sadness and despair, can look to a place in the world where they might belong." (Page 273) This is probably the statement that best sums up the book. It is sad to hear how the Hmong people were not wanted and were being killed. The Hmong people had nowhere to go except further into the mountains to avoid any harm. It's nice to see that this family is having some success. However, it must be difficult not having a real place to call home.