How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"After I listened for a while I realized that he'd really come in because of depression. It turned out he was an agoraphobe." (14.75)
Once again, we see repressed suffering bubbling to the surface. This refugee's emotional baggage has gotten so heavy that it's causing him to be afraid of public spaces overall (that's what agoraphobia is, and it's a tough diagnosis to cope with if you ever want to be outside). Maybe the Hmong aren't so wrong about the connection between mind and body after all.
Quote #8
"I remember talking to the mother and saying it was very hard for me to see Lia the way she was, to actually be in the same room with her." (15.7)
Surprisingly, this is a moment that bonds Neil and Foua. This is the first time Foua realizes that Lia's suffering has taken an emotional toll on Neil. Even this distant, science-y American would do anything to make Lia better. We can talk about religious rituals and cultural discrepancies until the cows come home, but all Foua wanted was a little sympathy, and here, albeit in a surprising way, she's got it.
Quote #9
But whenever I began to be lulled by this relatively rosy picture, I was drawn up short by an explosion of rage from Nao [...] or [...] a sudden seepage of grief from Foua. (15.25)
The Lees are such a loving family that Anne sometimes forgets about their hardships. Nao Kao and Foua have adapted their lives to care for Lia as best they can, but they've never been able to let go of their anger and sadness about the whole ordeal. As we've seen time and time again, though, burying your grief only delays the inevitable—our real emotions always show through, whether we like it or not.