irls, Yan and Eng,lived in a terrible neighborhood where there were "drunk men andprostitutes near corners”, “the fragrant smell of piss and jasmine ricewafting from windows”, and “a medley of languages: Vietnamese, Chinese,Cambodian, English, Black English, Laotian”(Quan 216). Kit went into thesituation thinking that she would be able to connect to her culturethrough knowing a common language. Somewhat to her surprise, theconnection to her culture did not come through language, but throughobserving the experiences of childhood that these two girls wereimmersed in. Kit states that “whether they were living in a refuge campin the Philippines or in Thailand or in some one-room apartment on EddyStreet, they were connected to each other through their language andtheir culture”(Quan 217). It was not so much Kit’s own interaction withthe girls that allowed her to realize where should would find herself,but her observation of the girls and their interaction with their nativelanguage and society. Kit’s experience with Yan and Eng compelled her to learn moreabout her native culture, rather than solely try to fit into theAmerican culture. Kit’s attempt to conform to the American standards andculture was precisely the mistake she had made with the feminists. KitYuen Quan’s time spent with the Cambodian girls allowed her to see howimportant being in touch with her Chinese background is. Not only didthis cause Kit to learn to speak Chinese, but this catharsis also helpedher realize that being in touch with her culture also means reconnectingwith her family. In making this realization, Kit decides to reconnectwith her father, and she says that “speaking Chinese with my father isthe closest I have felt to coming home”(Quan 219). Although being homewas originally something that was uncomfortable for Kit, it is the samehome that she returns to in order to receive that comfort ...
