Importance of America

Though scarcely mentioned in the book, America becomes a beacon of hope for Loung, who is told that she and Meng will immigrate there, despite her sorrow at having to leave some of her family behind. Meng believes that Loung's young age will allow her to adapt quickly to a new environment and make the most of the opportunities for education that she will receive, and so she departs from Cambodia with him and his wife, Eang, with the hope that she will return in five years to see her beloved siblings and homeland. However, life in America proves to be difficult, and the author deftly implies that immigrants find not only a safe refuge on American soil but also a life of difficult work in a language they do not understand. America is a bittersweet concept to Loung, as it gave her the space to save herself from nightmares about her past, but also it kept her apart from her loved ones for decades.