Abby was born in 1981. She was born in China and lived there until moving to Portland in March 2000 with her parents. One year after immigrating to Portland, she went to work in Salem where she lived with her aunt and grandparents. In late 2005, she had moved back to Portland to work in a restaurant and was living with her parents.

She had 11 years of education in China and had not studied English formally before coming to the U.S. Since her arrival in the U.S. and our last interview with her, Abby had taken 10 terms of ESL and other classes at local community colleges.

Her goals include obtaining her GED, a two-year college degree, and a better job. She would also like to become a U.S. citizen.