"Pilgrims from the Orient" is about Jade Snow Wong's youthful years with her parents. Wong was expected to be a "perfect" girl. She was taught the finest manners that her parents could teach. Wong's father is an entrepreneur and he tried to make a living by having his own business. This man is described as strict, but not talkative. Among his number of attempts of opening new businesses, his most successful business is mass producing denim garments. Wong's mother was dutiful in her tasks. When she was done with one thing, she would start on another. She would waste no time. She lived by the moral of working and saving.
             Wong's family had to work hard to keep their business alive and this was no exception to Wong herself. Not only did Wong have to work, but she was also expected to learn the English language and her native tongue. Being a girl, Wong didn't have the same privileges as her eldest brother, but Wong was taught that his privileges were his birthright. Knowing this, Wong didn't think much of it and accepted it as it is. Wong's parents had a strong bond with Chinese heritage. None is allowed to show physical affection, talk back, argue, or show gratitude for service.
             During the Great Depression, Wong's parents needed more hours of work from everybody, including Jade Wong. Because her father didn't have enough time to buy groceries and her mother had no time to waste on cooking, Wong was assumed both duties. Even with all of the tasks Wong was pitted against, she still managed to finish junior high school. As Wong advanced to high school, she had to work in part-time jobs to earn money to support her own self. During her high school years, Wong was introduced to non-Chinese customs. During these introductions, Wong compared her Chinese life with her American life. She compared the teachers and the ideals of both cultures. By the time Wong had finished high school, she had moved away to work for room and board. Her father,...