A theme that I found very interesting is the struggles that Asian Americans have faced in the past and present. I have never heard of the struggles going on in countries like China and Laos. I never realized how many families come from poverty and violence. I learned very little about historical events like Vietnam. I am only beginning to become aware of the human rights problem in China. I'm so used to seeing places like Tokyo, Japan, in movies and on TV. Everything looks so clean and the city is lit up with bright lights and amazing buildings at night. Before this class, I thought most Asians lived this kind of life. I didn't even know these events happened and I was amazed at some of the things Asians have had to go through over the years. Another theme that came up often was people trying to guess another person's personality. I remember many interviewees in Asia wishing people would just ask them what nationality they are instead of trying to guess. I can understand this because I don't really resemble any one nationality. I don't believe people do this to try to be rude. Sometimes people don't realize what they are doing is offensive. Everyone has been guilty of it at some point in their life. It was just nice to be reminded that it's much nicer to ask a person their ethnicity rather than trying to guess. The final theme was how different and similar the lifestyles of the interviewees were. Some really tried to preserve and practice their parents' culture. Others went their own way and tried to live their own lifestyle. It was also interesting to see how different the social classes were, originally they came from the middle of paper and saw how much they could enjoy 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 do have. This statement reminds me how lucky I am to have the things I do. “The Hmong came to America without a homeland. From the start, we knew we were looking for accommodation. Other people, in times of sadness and despair, may turn to a place in the world where they could belong. (Pg. 273) This is probably the statement that best sums up the book. It is sad to learn that the Hmong were not wanted and were killed. The Hmong people had nowhere to go except further into the mountains to avoid harm. It's good to see that this family is having some success. However, it must be difficult not to have a real home..