San Francisco

San Francisco is a city in the United States which is Mei Ling's first home outside of China. She and Bo explore its streets hesitantly at first, scared to wander into the wrong alley and get lost, but eventually they learn to sense where they are and are not able to venture. In large part, this is due to Mei Ling's sensitivity to racial discrimination, as she slowly realizes that though immigration to the United States is possible, being accepted by the American community might not be. She thus sticks to Chinatown on her walks with Bo, returning begrudgingly to their dingy apartment that is the first home Kai Li took her to. In a way, San Francisco becomes a place of real emotional value to Mei Ling only upon the birth of her daughter, Joy, who is born there.

Bartlett Alley

Bartlett Alley is a squalid...