In Chapter 6, “Transnational Ties,” Foner discusses what leading a transnational life means. This is obviously important because most people who move to another country, don’t instantaneously lose contact with those they left behind. Today it’s obviously a much easier to hold onto those that don’t move with you, as there is modern technology that keeps you up to date almost instantly. As we saw in the movie we watched in class, though, in the past it wasn’t so easy. If one didn’t know how to write, you had to hire someone to transcribe a letter for you, and it could take a very long time to get that letter where you wanted it to go and then to get a reply.

In Chapter 7, “Going to School,” Foner discusses culture and race as factors that play into educational success. Obviously, there are stereotypes about this that play into how people perceive one’s educational success based on that person’s culture and race. However, I think what’s more interesting is her discussion of how most immigrant parents that come to New York, now, come with positive attitudes towards education in the US and their expectations for their children’s educational success in the US. I think this makes sense because people do see the US as being such a superpower, but what’s interesting is that statistics do not have the US leading in education – worldwide.