After a turbulent plane ride, Julia finally arrives in Mexico. Her water bottle spilled in her backpack, smudging the note with Olga’s computer password. Tio Chucho picks Julia up and drives her the four hours back to Los Ojos. He is proud to hear that she wants to go to college, because he does not want her to “work like a donkey” (242) like the rest of her family does. He apologizes for not attending Olga’s funeral, because the family could not get visas or afford it. 

When Julia wakes up from a nap, they have arrived at Mama Jacinta’s, where a swarm of family members greet her. Julia notices how much has changed in the few years she has been gone. She is fed well, and relatives ask her many questions about her family and her life in America. She feels welcomed and loved and thinks to herself: “Maybe Amá was right for once. Maybe this is what I needed” (245).

Mama Jacinta teaches her how to make menudo, a soup made with tripe. She encourages Julia to share what has been going on in her life and assures her she will keep it confidential. She tells Julia that Amá was the “rebellious” one as a girl, and she and Julia are “more alike” than Julia thinks (247).