Middle of Everywhere - Mary Bray Pipher [93]
Wendy said, "Many newcomers do not understand cold. It can be dangerous. Please wear gloves, hats, and coats on cold days and make sure your children are dressed warmly. Be careful when you walk on ice."
I reflected on how much we take for granted. We Nebraskans know about hypothermia and wind chill; we have been walking on ice all our lives. Some of the lessons were verbal: "Walk on the grass, that sidewalk is too icy" or "Those shoes don't have enough grip. You'll fall down." But most of what we know has been learned through trial and error. Walking on ice involves knowing what kind of shoes to wear and how to step solidly and slowly, feeling our way, and it involves learning to evaluate surfaces for slickness and recognizing subtle gradations in texture and color that allow us to predict where we are most likely to fall. Newcomers, especially from the Global South, have none of that knowledge.
Wendy asked, "What kinds of food are good in winter?"
This led into a rousing discussion of food. Bao rubbed her stomach and said, "Fried catfish salad with eggplant."
Ha said, "Pizza is always good." Maria agreed.
Yen asked, "Miss Wendy, do Americans eat frogs stuffed with ants?"
"Not too often," said Wendy.
"Menudo is good in winter," Rosa said. "And pozole is delicious with Mountain Dew."
"My baby likes Mountain Dew in her bottle," Yen bragged.
Wendy asked, "Is this good for babies?" Three women said yes and two no. Wendy said, "Milk or juice is better."
Ha wanted to know why American grocery stores do not smell. "Vietnamese stores are very fragrant."
Maria said, "Shrimps in Mexico are much better."
Wendy said, "A shrimp must swim a long ways to get to Lincoln from the ocean." Everyone laughed.
Wendy joked, nurtured, and served as a cultural broker for these women. She made class feel like a party. Her students arrived tired, but they grew less tired as the class progressed.
Wendy asked how everyone's kids were doing. Yen said, "My kids went to Chuck E. Cheese this week."
"I bought my daughter a new dress," Maria bragged. "She made straight A's."
"That is what I tell all my children," Bao said. "Make straight A's like Maria's daughter." Everyone laughed but Ha.
Ha shook her head sadly. "My daughter stay out late on Saturday night. She is a very bad girl."
"She is not a bad girl. She just has bad friends." Bao wagged her finger at Ha. "I told you, do not let her leave the house except for her job and school."
"My son is only three and already he has learned a naughty word from the boy next door," Rosa said sadly.
"Children are spoiled in America," Ha said. "Teachers here are top easy. In Vietnam if you made a mistake you had to kneel in the corner or teacher would hit you."
Wendy asked, "Do you want me to make you kneel in the corner if you make a mistake?"
Bao joked, "I am too fat to kneel in corner."
Ha remained serious and said, "In the United States, children lose their spiritual nature and become materialistic."
Maria said, "My oldest daughter comes home after school and takes care of the children. She cooks and cleans the house."
"If the oldest child is good, all the younger ones will be good," Yen said.
Ha said, "I worry my daughter is with gang kids."
"It is good you are learning English," Wendy said reassuringly. "You can help your children more when you understand our language."
Bao said, "I let my children study at an American school, shop at the mall, and wear American clothes, but I make sure they think like Vietnamese."
"That is the best way to have a family," Wendy said. "Pick what is best from each culture."
She patted Ha's bandaged arm. "I am sorry your daughter is having trouble."
Bao volunteered, "Tell your daughter if she is a good girl, Auntie Bao will buy her a cell phone." Even Ha smiled.
Wendy offered, "Would you like to have an English lesson?" The women nodded happily.
Wendy distributed handouts and had them follow along