An Asian Odyssey

More than half of my life has been spent in Asia. This part of the world has become my home. But like Odysseus, I hope to some day find my way back to the shores where I was born... America... bringing with me tales of adventures from lands far away.

The stories gathered here explore the modernization of Asia from a very personal perspective. How do new lifestyles affect people only one generation removed from their ancestral roots? An old man must battle his own ghosts and a raging fire to reunite with the people of his village. A young mother faces the pressures of a demanding educational system for the sake of her daughter. One man gives up entirely and drops out of society. Other individuals discover new ways to relate to their neighbors and loved ones. There may be no clear winner or loser in the clash between past and present, tradition and progress, but there is always learning. I hope that these fictional encounters provide some fresh perspectives on the dynamics of cultural change.