Over the years, he has secured thousands of dollars and keeps meticulous records on paper and dry-erase boards mounted on the wall in his living room. Pham and his wife host new immigrants in their two-bedroom apartment to make their transition easier and organize all of the parties. And they bid farewell to the many families who move out. It's all a part of assimilating. The children speak excellent English and rapid Vietnamese, serving as translators for their parents.
Language barriers limit conversations between neighbors, but somehow it works out.
Ruth Prophete was in the laundry room recently when a petite Vietnamese woman walked in. With a nod and smile, the woman pushed a plate filled with shrimp wrapped in Vietnamese-style crepes into Prophete's hands. She didn't speak English. I don't even know her name. It shows that you don't have to live in a bad place if you live in the projects.