As a role model for perseverance, and by her strong support for their efforts to learn to read, Debbie has broken the chain of intergenerational illiteracy, and forged a stronger one to a future of learning and success. Through these experiences, and many others, Nancy has shared the American culture with her Chinese student. Rui Fen had an opportunity to reciprocate when she and Nancy took a two week trip together to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. After visiting Rui Fen's family home and talking with her aunts, uncles and cousins, Nancy finds it easier to help Rui Fen with the journal they work on as a part of their literacy training. Now when Rui Fen writes stories about her life in China prior to immigrating to the United States.
Literacy is about communication, and so is understanding.