Chapters 44-46 and Epilogue Summary and Analysis

Chapter 44 was titled "Viet-Kieu," which meant Vietnamese-American. Andrew was cycling toward the beachfront city of Nha Trang, his mother's favorite town. He stayed at a government-run hotel and ate in the Vietnamese part of town, although he had been having stomach troubles for three months. After dinner, he went to a hotel to meet a friend from Saigon named Cuong who was supposed to be there. Cuong, a travel guide, said he had changed his named to Calvin, which was the suggestion Andrew had made when asked to provide an American name. He had not liked calling Andrew a Viet-Kieu, which he said could be used as an insult. As the two friends talked, Andrew asked Calvin if he wanted to go to America. Calvin said yes, but just for a visit, because in Vietnam...