Parents of Chinese scholars at Yale University doing tai chi on Tuesday in New Haven, Connecticut. They gather at Farnam Memorial Garden from 9am to noon, Monday to Friday, to exercise and socialize. (Courtesy of Yale mom Qi Xiaoyu)

Although Qi doesn't farm, she often shares in the cooking. On Thursdays, she, Zhang and other friends take the bus to the Hong Kong market.

"The market gets fresh fish on every Thursday!" said Zhang. "We gather by the road at 10 am and leave together."

As she headed back to her apartment around noon, Zhang was called by her neighbor Tang Yongxiu, 70. "Do you want some dumplings?" Tang asked.

"Do you have enough?" Zhang asked.

"Plenty!" Tang replied.

For lunch, Zhang took away a plate of dumplings, and soon returned with a plate of chive scrambled eggs.

"We are too old to integrate into the American society. The best we can do is to say 'Hello! Morning!' in English," Zhang said. "So we just live our own simple life."

hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com