“She was thinking that way nowadays: what can hurt her, what can leave a scar.”

Newly arrived in New Orleans and traumatized from the war and losing Công, Hương’s mindset has completely shifted. Rather than focusing on how happy her life once was, Hương must instead focus on protecting herself and, by extension, her two young sons. This shift in priorities hints at how much of her identity will be consumed by her role as a mother, as well as her strong desire to shield and protect her family from disaster at all costs. In addition, this quote foreshadows her later decision to lie to her boys about Công having died a heroic death rather than admit that he prefers to stay in Vietnam rather than be with his family.

“What was wrong with these people? What was wrong with this place?”

As Hương struggles to adapt to her life in New Orleans, she repeatedly experiences panic and culture shock. Unfamiliar with American life, culture, and language, she struggles to communicate. Understandably, she longs for the familiarity of Vietnam, and as she tries to get her bearings is instead overwhelmed by differences.

“‘Let’s go home,’ she replied. ‘He said we should go home.’

‘But home is so far away,’ said her son.

[...]

‘I know,’ she said, more to herself than to him. ‘I know.’”

Despite her struggles to acclimate to New Orleans, Hương must take care of her children, who are themselves confused by the change.