Girl in Translation

Kim is surprised to learn that the students must change into gym clothes for gym class. Embarrassed that the other girls, who wear nice, store-bought underwear, will see her poorly-sewn handmade shorts and undershirt, she opts to change in the bathroom stall.Some of the boys spy on the girls' locker room through the skylight and Greg sees Kim in her homemade underwear. "'Are those boxing shorts comfortable?'" Greg asks her in the hallway (135). She tells Ma she needs new underwear, but Ma doesn't understand why any "'decent girl would look at someone else's underwear"(130). Ma takes Kim to Woolworth's and Macy's, where they buy new underwear and a training bra.

At the factory afterschool, Matt compliments Kim on her new outfit. She worries that others will notice her uniform and decides to change into her regular clothes before coming into work. When Ma asks her how first day went, Kim realizes how stressed she had been all day and finally relaxes.

Kim meets with her English tutor, Kerry, at Harrison the next day. Kerry is a senior at the school and, to Kim's surprise, is also a scholarship student. They decide the best way to help Kim with her English will be to have a normal conversation, with Kerry correcting Kim's grammar.