In this captivating memoir, Stanley unflinchingly shares his tumultuous experience as an international graduate student in the American Midwest. His narrative weaved through a labyrinth of unexpected trials, crises, and cultural clashes as he grappled with the perplexing healthcare system, the haunting justice system, the intimidating immigration maze, and the bureaucratic intricacies of academia.

Through his triangular interactions with two "elite" students, he not only rectified his understanding of mainstream American culture but also delved into the depths of human relationships. The multi-layered emotional turmoil Stanley endured as he confronted the "devil" within and outside, mixed with the benevolence and insights he received from peers and fellows, resulted in his transcendence of the original "American dream."

Along this journey, Stanley invites readers to reflect on universal themes of identity, resilience, mental health, and spiritual growth.

Fantastic and uncompromising expression of what it means to be an immigrant to the US today. Essential reading for anyone considering immigrating or who has already immigrated and finding it unexpectedly difficult to assimilate into US culture. As a third culture kid and hidden immigrant, I wish I'd had this book decades ago. Its insights would have saved me years of heartbreak, loss and sorrow. — Andrew Indahl, civil rights attorney, UCLA graduate

In a land where the coffee is strong and the health insurance is weak, the author navigates friendships like a tightrope walker — balancing between cultural faux pas and the fear of being misunderstood. Love was a puzzle with missing pieces, and every legal form felt like an existential riddle. Yet, through each cringing trial, he discovers that the quirks of human behavior are the threads that weave us all together, regardless of the results. — Alfred Olivas, STEAM Education Consultant, former expat in Asia