"Intellectually, I regard myself as an American of Chinese descent. I have long since embraced the fact that my transplant is permanent, and I am glad that it is. But this does not mean that I have abandoned China; instead, I am now tied to two worlds. For four decades, my professional work has involved university teaching and research to promote health and prevent disease... Since the mid-1970s, I have traveled to China, sometimes several times a year, as a consultant in health programs at the invitation of the national government, universitites, and international organizations.

"I used to think that my father's world and my world were distinct. His was a world that was long past, one that was ingrained in the traditions and mores of the ancient sage Confucius. He never let go of this world of a time gone by and always felt the anguish of its loss. He never let go of the sentiments he had held as a loyal Chinese Nationalist.

"My world, in contrast, was the New World in which I became American. Although the United States has given me opportunities and privileges, it has also presented me with challenges. I can never get beyond the vulnerability I feel because of my color and the country of my birth. Often I'm asked where I'm from. When I say the United States is my country and I am an American, I can predict the follow-up question: 'What I mean is, what is your origin? Where are you from?'"

—From the Author's Preface
reprinted with permission
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