Saigon
Ha's last name
What is Kim?
What are 3 challenges that people faced on the ship?
What is little food, little water, and no bathrooms?
What strange food did Ha recieve on her first day of school?
What is a hot dog?
What is lazy?
What is nuoc mam, and how does it help people in the camp?
Fish sauce to make the poor food they were served more edible.
The tree Ha loves most, with fruit that symbolizes her love for her country and her home
What is Papaya?
Each family member brings one item with them before they flee. What does Ha bring and why is it important?
She brings her doll because she thinks it it more beautiful for her scars.
The name of Ha's teacher, who does nottell the class anything about the beauty of Vietnam.
Who is Miss Scott?
"I was superstitious that is all. If anything, you brought us luck..."
superstitious: having faith in magic or chance
What does the amethyst ring symbolize
It symbolizes the love between Ha's father and mother.
Ha's mother always wants to do what is best for her family. Why does she decide to go to the United States?
She needed to leave Saigon to protect her family, so her sons could earn scholarships for their education in America.
What did Khoi and Ha throw overboard and why did they do this?
The dead chick and the doll. Ha did not want Khoi to be alone in his grief and wanted to support her brother.
Why is Miss Washington kind to Ha? What part of her past makes her more sympathetic?
Miss Washington's son died as a soldier in Vietnam.
"I can't think of anything but can't let my brothers best me, so I blurt out, What if Father is really gone?"
blurt: to say something out loud without thinking.
What does "Our Cowboy" bring for the children to eat?
What is KFC?
Name 3 superstitions people have during Tet (things you must or can't do).
-Can't sweep the floor
-can't wear old clothing
-has to have a male's foot touch the floor first.
After one week abord the ship, what does Ha's mother tell her older son to do?
What is teach English to the crew?
Why does Ha feel regret once she starts learning English?
Now she unsterstands the horrible things poeple say to her.
"GOOONNNNGGGGG rings out; how soothing a real gong sounds."
soothing: freeing from fear and anxiety
What happened that finally made Pink Boy and his friends stop bullying Ha?
Ha stood up for herself
This person gave Ha flower seeds in a tin before leaving Saigon
Who is her best friend TiTi?
The man with ______ help the children get onto a smaller boat.
Golden fuzzy armhair.
Ha thinks that her life is so unlucky because of three naughty things she did in the past. What did she confess to have done.
-pulled a classmate's hair
-stole money for fried dough
-put her toe on the floor first at Tet
"Pink Boy writhes on the pavement."
Writhe: move in a twisting motion when in pain.
The dried papayas were "Not the same, but not bad." The Tet rice and bean treats mother made were "Not the same, but not bad." How does the repetition of this motto reflect Ha's new life in Alabama?
Ha, can't expect her life to ever be the same as it was in Saigon.