Topic > Refugee Experience in Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Throughout history, countries have gone through wars, whether they turned against a country or against their own people. In the novel Inside Out & Back Again you learn how a girl named Ha and her family go through the refugee experience. The title of the novel, Inside Out & Back Again, relates the refugees' feelings to being "inside out" as they go through hardship, but coming back "again" as they create a new life in their new community. Ha's experience connects to the universal refugee as they both go through hardship and have to create a new life for themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "I have no choice but to run." Refugees' lives are "turned upside down" when they flee their homelands due to the hardships of the war that surrounds them. During the Vietnam War the Vietnamese try to escape due to the war being very hectic, chaotic and harsh for them. This is what Ha and his family unfortunately had to face during their trip to America. In the article “Panic Rises in Saigon but the Exits Are Few” we read: “Panic is clearly visible in Saigon now as thousands of Vietnamese desperately try to find ways to escape their country.” Escaping is difficult for the Vietnamese because everyone is panicking and trying to leave as quickly as possible. He went through the hardships of having to live on a boat malnourished during his escape to America. In the poem One Engine in Inside Out & Back Again on page 88 it states: "The commander decides that the ration is now half a piece of rice in the morning and evening only, and a cup or water all day." They have lowered their rice ration, which means they will receive even less food and less water. Once Ha and the rest of the people arrive on a tent island called Guam, they are limited in the amount of good food they receive since no one wants to eat the nasty slop that is plentiful. In the poem Tent City in Inside Out & Back Again on pages 96-97 it states, "We only eat canned fruit in syrup and everyone wants extra but we only get a cup." People are very hungry and want more fruit because other food isn't appetizing, but they can't have more than the one cup limit. Overall it can be seen that the lives of refugees are “turned upside down” when they flee their homelands due to what is happening to the community around them. 'Mum thinks of everything.' Refugees' lives “go back” when they are able to create a new life in their new community. Many refugees are resettled in new countries for a better life. In the text, Refugees: who, where, why? states: “Millions of refugees have been successfully resettled in ten existing resettlement countries.” Refugees are resettled and can start their new lives in resettlement countries that allow them to pursue a better lifestyle. Ha and his family get a new home in America thanks to their sponsor from Alabama who provides it for them. In the poem American Address in Inside Out & Back Again on page 124 it states, "Our cowboy with an even taller hat finds us a house on Princess Anne Road, pays rent three months in advance." The cowboy gets them a house so they can live on their own and start their new life in their house instead of the basement. Ha and his family will all be away from home, at school or at work, embarking on their new lives. In the poem The Outside in Inside Out & Back Again on page 136 we read: “From tomorrow everyone will have to leave the house”. Has and.