"I am a 32 year-old housewife with two children, ages ten and seven. We came to America under a resettlement program for former political prisoners. My husband was a junior officer in the South Vietnamese army and he spent eight years in a concentration camp.

Before our departure from Vietnam, we received a lot of advice about what to expect in our new life in the U.S. We were advised not to let the children drink cow's milk because it is not easily tolerated by Vietnamese children and causes diarrhea. When I went shopping at the supermarket I used to see many milk containers, each with a different colored cap. I was confused and never bought milk or milk products.

I depended on the Vietnamese radio station that broadcasts in the Washington Metropolitan area to get news and advice for our daily life in this country.

My favorite lessons were about nutrition and shopping for food. After the presentation on each subject, listeners were encouraged to call in for further explanation. I called a few times; the lady lecturer was most helpful. She proposed that I enroll in her free class on nutrition. She came to my apartment to teach me and some neighbors on these subjects and other every day topics to help us get acquainted with life in the U.S. Now I can feel more secure when shopping at the supermarket, and can distinguish between two different types of milk, and from whole milk to low fat and skim milk. My children drink milk without any side affects. They are growing, as we say ‘as if they were inflated'."