-I really wish America and the government could share the sentiment of immigrants that the Korean owner did of Mexicans and Ecuadorians at the start of Chapter 5. The owner really did speak volumes. Most people automatically assume that undocumented immigrants are trying to get over when they really aren’t. They are just as diligent and hard working in their jobs as a typical citizen. They are wiling to pay their dues to society. However, since people have their preconceived notions, they don’t necessarily get to know most immigrants as the Korean owner has. Thus, these very same people who refuse to help only make matters worse by simply complaining about the number of undocumented immigrants as if that is making a difference.

– A line in Chapter 5 states that necessity brings together dissimilar ethnic groups, and the managerial group eventually accords its employees as fictive coethnics in the garment industry. Thus, when the devastating Hurricane Sandy hit Chinatown, did necessity bring together all ethnic groups? Does the term coethnics hold meaning outside of the workforce?

-It was very depressing to read how passive the Chinese workers had to be out of obligation and respect to the person who brought them in by not complaining. How is asking for better wages seen as complaining? Doesn’t everyone have to make a living?

-It was also very interesting to read about the Chinese garment worker’s experience in the Korean shop. At first I was thrown off guard as to why she felt it was embarrassing to tell people that she had worked there because it was still the same type of work that everyone else did, just different ownership.  However, after reading why she felt that way, her sentiment made a lot more sense. From the Chinese worker’s perspective, I do find it deplorable that if the Chinese workers worked faster it meant that they were only placed on harder jobs at the same rate. It is understandable that not everyone may like or get along with another individual or group but that doesn’t mean you have to treat people in a degrading manner.