10 August 1885

After being in Hawaii for about a month, I am starting to understand some of the ghost language known as English. Now, when I work in the fields I can hear what the ghosts have to say about us Chinese workers. In several conversations I’ve heard the Hawaiian ghost use the word ‘Pake’ many times, not sure what it means for sure, but if I had to guess, it probably refers to Chinese people. It seems that wherever I walk on this island, the surrounding ghosts judge and look at me as an outsider. Too many ghosts on this island, there’s white ghosts, black ghosts, okinawan ghosts. All of them look the same to me. Just yesterday I went to the market to pick up some bread and vegetables, but I got lost in the grocery aisles. Ghosts were everywhere, I tried to ask for help in the best English I could speak,” Wherpayfotheis?” But their responds were either, “Whaat arre youu saying?” or “No understand. Speak up,” or some arrogant ghosts just walked away and ignored me. Trying to communicate with these ghosts was like talking to a leaf. I felt alone, no one is my friend here in Hawaii. But luckily I was able to find my way out of that chaotic ghost maze with the help of a fellow Chinese worker. At least I know that I am not alone in this ghost country.