It’s All Relatives

Pg. 96
“Not surprisingly, my native language, Persian, contains many more precise words for relatives then does the English language.”


Sundara’s family also has a precise way of addressing everyone. Sundara calls Soka Younger Aunt. Soka calls Naro Husband, rather than by his name. She also calls Sundara Niece. Naro sometimes calls Soka Little Sister, even though they aren’t biological siblings. Moni, who is a friend of Sundara, calls Sundara Little Sister, sometimes. But I think the younger you are like Ravy and Pon’s age, than they just get called my their first names. Vietnamese is also like this. You don’t just say grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle, there are specific words for those kinds of things.


Pg. 102
“Like all Iranians, we consider academics to be of the utmost importance. Almost every child in my extended family has attended college, a record that brings tears of pride and joy to the eyes of the older generation, a record that we hope to continue.”


In Cambodia the most important goals are to get a good job, marry the Khmer way (an arranged marriage), cook and care for your family, and take care of your parents when they grow old. Education isn’t nearly as important but it is important because you need a good education to get a good occupation. Sundara has those same goals but she also needs the straight A’s to become a doctor and help others.