My father bought this book on November 20th, 1981. He wanted to learn English so he could come to America one day to escape the poverty-stricken town he lived in.
My Father sat at the living room couch, with his favorite book propped up on his left hand. Romance of the Three Kingdoms stood between his thick fingers. His gold wire frame glasses rested loosely on the bridge of his nose. He glanced at me with the same solemn grimace. I sat diagonally across from him and asked, “Dad, can you tell me the story about when you arrived in America.”
“Derek, That’s a long story. I’m tired. I’ll tell you another time, but the short version is I came here with five dollars. I lived at your uncle’s apartment and he hired me. We did construction work together. Everyday after work, I would read the news and use this dictionary. This dictionary got me my first job. That job led to a job as a dishwasher, a hotel manager, now a small business owner, which allows me to raise you in New York.”
My father left his rural Canton countryside for Elmhurst, New York. He said that he couldn't stay in a country his father was punished and exiled.
“If there was one thing I learned throughout life, it’s communication. In each job, there were new words I would learn. I looked these all up in the dictionary.”
“reliability.”
“motivation.”
“honesty.”
“compassion.”
“I knew what a valuable person in society had. I just wanted the best for mom, Vicky[my sister] and you.”
“But, this dictionary has no meaning to you.”
“I looked at him and smiled. “Now it does.”
(Quotes from Henry L. Ku)
