Chapter Fourteen - Letting Go - Letting go

"For a glistening instant, Ky La dances before my eyes, then vanishes into a memory (Hayslip 362)." After all that Ky La went through she has finally decided it is time to go to America. As she leaves behind everything, she sees her Ky La for the last time (until her return, 16 years later). For me, it is traditional to travel to Mexico each summer for about 1 to 2 months. Every year, I grow close to and make friends. This becomes the only time of year where I have the privilege to see my loved ones and spend valuable and unforgettable time with them. As the months rolls by, it is time for me to say good bye after an amazing summer. Every year, although I know I am coming back, I feel as Le Ly does. The town where I stay dances in my eyes, and it all becomes memories. Memories that I will never forget and spend time telling my children about them. That moment, when I look into my grandparents eyes for the last time that year, tears run down my face and I remember all of the laughs and arguments we shared together. I, like Le Ly, will never forget those times and will always be our source of joy in remembrance.

Chapter Thirteen - Finding Peace - Peace and Forgiveness

"That you're never too old to forgive people; that it's never too late to patch the dike and save a little more of whatever life's left in you (Hayslip 337)." This quote shows that even after EVERYTHING that Le Ly had gone through she did not give up. She had strength each time to keep moving forward. Le Ly had not been a flat character throughout her life. Every time something happened to her, she would learn from it and become a wiser, stronger person. In my life this quote is significant because it remind me that each time I am struggling, I need to push myself a little farther to restore everything that I have felt is lost. It's always early to start and realize that you can reach peace in your life. As she said, it is never too late to forgive those who have hurt you because as posted before, they will make you stronger. Lastly, it is okay to stop and look back in your life to fix everything that you someday felt guilty of or hurt you in someway.

Chapter Twelve - Finding a Family

"Marriage for me, was simply one more thing on the long list of things I would never have (Hayslip 303)." This statement shows me that for Le Ly, life must have been hard. She had been severly raped several times, and was always being abused of by men. It makes me sick to my stomach, that to this day men are still that way. So much so that it causes a woman no to want to get married, something beautiful that all woman should want to enjoy. I also feel that the tone Le Ly says this statement is of despair. She has been through so much with her life, with one man leaving and another coming. She is completely lost and probably has no idea what love is like. I think for someone like Le Ly who is so strong, compassion and love are the only things missing in her life.

Chapter Eleven - Almost in Paradise - Letting Go

For Le Ly's mother it was hard to see her baby daughter grow up. Most of the time, Le Ly was treated like a foolish young girl. As time passed, her mother would soon find out, and dissaprove, that Le Ly was hanging around Americans. She accused her of being immature and told her she was just a child. "'I'm not a little girl, Mama Du! If you haven't noticed, you're holdingg my baby son in your lap! And who do you think's been supporting us for the last year and a half?' (Hayslip 277)." This quote symbolizes not only the immature way Le Ly is looked at by her mother, but also the feeling of not wanting to let go of that child. Every once in a while (mostly always), parents are having to swallow the idea of their little babies growing up. For some, it is mere protection and worry of what they will find in the real world. The maxim I would give to other parents, is to let go slowly and let their children grow up in a healthy invornment. After all, children are always following in their parent's footsteps.

Chapter Ten - Power on Earth - Strength

"I cannot remember the exact moment I decided to leave Vietnam. But one day I became aware that everything I had done for the past few months had been a preparation for departure --- a ritual leave-taking that meant little when those acts were considered by themselves but, when viewed together, were much like my father's own preparations in anticipation of his death (Hayslip 255)." The mood of this quote- success or rather something leading up to success- reminds me that everything we do happens for a greater something in the end. Schoolwork in particular is something most people dread, and as the school years pass by, we become stronger with knowledge. Knowledge that one day we will use in a career or even in life. Not just schoolwork, but also life itself is a gradual stepping stone. Every mistake we make is a way for us to learn not to make it once more and creates us stronger people. For every great thing, we become grateful for it and learn to appreciate the good things given to us. To me, everything has a meaning and lesson for us that gradually all are stepping stones for when we decide to do something amazing with our lives.

Chapter Eight and Nine- Sisters and Brothers, Daughters and Sons

"When the worst around you are only victims, forgiveness and compassion come much easier (Hayslip 227)." This quote reminds me that sometimes the best way to deal with someone who has been badly hurt emotionally is for you to give them the most compassion ever. For Le, she was being compassionate toward the GI's who has been victims of the war and ended up hating themselves. She would use motivation to make them feel better. I feel that if I was Le Ly, it would have been extremely difficult for me to forgive someone who had created so much damage (for her, in war). Although, one person is not the sole cause of such destruction, they were followers and most likely had done something to deserve their hatred. Yes, no one merely deserves hatred but in a time of war, that is all a human being can do to the enemy. For Le Ly it was different, she forgave and gave all her compassion to them.

Chapter Seven - A Different View - Grown Up

As the story continues, the narrator (Le Ly) continues to move on with her life. Her souvenir business continued for a couple years after she had been caught selling fake illegal drugs. On an occasion, Le Ly decides to go back to her village. Her mother and sister are reluctant but Le goes anyway. When she arrives she finds that her father has been severely beaten and is dehydrated. All of her childhood memories are destroyed with sights of her once perfect little village. As she stays, she begins to notice that all of her childhood friends are now married or have moved away. "I discovered that most kids I grew up with (those who had not been killed in the fighting) had married or moved away (Hayslip 198)." To me this statement is powerful because Le Ly had gone through absolute, horrible situation. She was forced out of her innocence and into the life of adulthood. When Le Ly realized that all of the aspect of her childhood were gone, all she was left with was memories.