Americanized: Rebel without a Green Card

Introduction-Chapter 4

Reading Check

1. San Jose, CA (Introduction)

2. Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh (Chapter 1)

3. Ayatollah Khomeini (Chapter 1)

4. An ethnicity (FAQ #1)

Short Answer

1. Saedi’s older sister, Samira, is applying for jobs. She tells Saedi that she does not think she will be hired because she does not have a social security card; she further explains that the government “doesn’t know [they] exist” and that they “could be deported at any time.” (Introduction)

2. Saedi views this belief as privileged. Her Canadian friend immigrated legally; she was able to do so safely thanks to the slow-moving bureaucracy involved with immigrating. (Chapter 2)

3. In middle school and high school, Saedi has a “unibrow,” which makes her self-conscious. Her awkwardness along with her classmates’ insensitivity and ignorance about cultures other than their own make it difficult for her to assimilate. (Chapter 3)

4. First, Iranian parents push their children into high-achieving professions. Second, Iranian parents are very strict. Third, Iranian parents are conservative Muslim “zealots.” (Chapter 4)

Frequently Asked Question #2-Chapter 8

Reading Check

1. Not Without My Daughter (FAQ #2)

2. “Immigrant child guilt complex” (Chapter 5)

3. France (Chapter 6)

4. Kia revealed that Saedi had a crush on Evan Parker. (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

1. Saedi’s father takes quite a liberal perspective. He suggests that Saedi bring home drugs to use under his supervision, so he can control the environment and ensure that she is safe. Saedi never accepts this offer, but she appreciates his openness. (Chapter 5)

2. Farideh was placed in an arranged marriage by her parents at the age of 15. The marriage was strong, but Farideh’s in-laws would frequently beat her, thus causing Farideh to attempt suicide. Farideh became a pious Muslim after her eldest son died in a plane crash; just six years after his death, Farideh’s husband died of cancer. Leading such a difficult life has given Farideh a no-nonsense personality. (Chapter 6)

3. Most American bathrooms are not equipped with bidets. (A bidet is a sink-like bathroom device used for hygiene, and it is a common feature in households in many countries.) (FAQ #3)

Frequently Asked Question #4-Chapter 12

Reading Check

1. A wedding altar (FAQ #4)

2. 19 first cousins (Chapter 9)

3. A luggage store (Chapter 10)

4. “Resilience” (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Divorce is a strategic attempt to receive permanent residence in America. Through Shohreh’s mother, Maman Soury, she could sponsor Shohreh and her children, but only if she is unmarried. This strategy, ultimately, fails when Maman Soury passes away. (Chapter 10)

2. Saedi does not understand this concept because she often socializes with her cousins and extended family. There is no need for a special “family reunion” because they see each other consistently. (Chapter 9)

3. Her maternal grandmother, Mansoureh Naficy (also known as Maman Soury) had a difficult upbringing. At 23, she agreed to an arranged marriage to her first cousin. (Chapter 11)

Frequently Asked Question #6-Afterword

Reading Check

1. The Solar Hijri calendar (FAQ #6)

2. Saedi must ask Evan, her long-time crush, to the dance. (Chapter 13)

3. Donald Trump (FAQ #7)

4. 26 years old (Chapter 15)

5. The 2009 Green Movement (Epilogue)

Short Answer

1. The Iranian calendar decision mirrors a discrepancy surrounding Saedi’s own birthday: Although some legal documents claim she was born on September 22, 1980, she was actually born in October. Her parents changed the date so she would qualify to start school earlier in Iran. The confusion continued as Saedi’s father accidentally wrote her birthday as September 21, 1980, on immigration forms. (FAQ #6)

2. Slash is Saedi’s first serious boyfriend. Slash is somewhat eccentric, and he wears a garish outfit to prom—but Saedi does not mind, because she is learning to care less about what people think of her. They continue to date in college, and Saedi has her first sexual experience with him. The relationship ends, however, when Saedi realizes he does not truly love her. (Chapter 13)

3. Saedi bemoans the inefficient and often confusing process at the immigration office. It involves long lines, perplexing rules, and endless paperwork. Sara raises the example of how, every year when she needs to renew her employment authorization card, she must begin waiting outside INS at 6:00am to be ready when the doors open at 9:00am—only to be met with disdain by the INS staff. (Chapter 14)