Firoozeh emigrated to the United States as a child with her family, including her father who had spent two years in Texas as a student in his youth and consequently thought of himself as the authority on all things American. His family quickly realized that this could not have been further from the truth as he had gleaned all of his information on how to be American from Disney and television game shows. He also has many other erroneous views about himself, one of which is that he is a championship-caliber bowler. He is so impressed with his talent that he becomes a contestant on a television show called "Bowling for Dollars" hoping to win the jackpot in money for his family, but he turns out to be over-nervous and is the worst bowler ever to appear on the show, failing to knock down more than one pin.
Firoozeh's parents continue to assimilate via television, theme parks, and fast food. The one skill they share as a family is eating and they make a point of eating every item on every menu at every fast food outlet at the nearby strip mall. Their favorite is Baskin Robbins ice cream. Their passion for fast food and packaged junk food is surprising given the passion they had in their native Persia and the care they took with natural ingredients, herbs, and traditional cooking from scratch methods.
Another passion of Firoozeh's father is Disneyland. Living in Southern California, she and her family are in very close proximity to the theme park and are consequently frequent visitors. To her father, the only thing better than going to Disneyland with a big group of people is going with an enormous group of people although this is a novelty that quickly wears off for Firoozeh especially after she gets lost at the park. When her father eventually finds her he is so relieved that he buys her whichever souvenirs she selects which is completely out of character as he usually views them as a complete waste of money.
Firoozeh and her brothers make friends easily and fit in well; the community is very welcoming to the point of overwhelming. There is nothing that they won't do for the Persian children who are ill-equipped for their American childhood, for example, magically providing a Halloween costume for Firoozeh so that she can go trick or treating with her friends, or making cupcakes when it is her turn to take refreshments for the class. Firoozeh's mother loves America but like most Persian women of her generation was minimally educated. She has no English when the family arrives in America and even when she has learned the language her accent is so thick that nobody can understand her anyway.
After the Revolution in Persia being Iranian is suddenly much more challenging, especially after terrorists in Iran began to kidnap American journalists. The family is viewed with more suspicion than before and it is harder for Firoozeh's father to get a job anywhere in the world because of his Iranian passport. It is at this time that Firoozeh changes her name to Julie, hoping for an easier path through college. Whilst at college she meets her future husband, a French student who loves her family but whose parents never really accept Firoozeh. Eventually, the couple lost touch with the Dumases together, the catalyst being an earthquake that hit whilst they lived in San Francisco; whilst Firoozeh's family were beside themselves with worry for the safety of their daughter and son-in-law, Firoozeh's mothmother-in was more concerned about the welfare of the antique tea service she had given them as a wedding present.
Despite being raised a Muslim, Firoozeh went on to bring her children up in her husband's Catholic faith and is amused by her enthusiasm for Christmas trees and hosting the entire family for Christmas. Her father still adds to this his favorite traditions of visiting Las Vegas, watching Bob Hope's Christmas Special, and eating ham in extraordinarily copious quantities.
