The Expatriates

Acknowledgments

Writing a book is, among other things, an exercise in how much time you can spend alone, so it’s crucial that when you emerge you are with people you like.

I like these people, for their friendship and advice: Mimi Brown, Ann Chen, Deborah Cincotta, Rachael Combe, Kate Gellert, Eunei Lee, Elaina Richardson, Katie Rosman, Gary Shteyngart, Pat Towers.

My agent, Theresa Park, is a marvel of efficiency and empathy, immediate with responses, soothing with assurances.

Abby Koons, Emily Sweet, Alex Greene, Andrea Mai, Peter Knapp, and Emily Owen are the dream team at the Park Literary Group who make my life better in so many different ways.

I thank the wonderful people at Viking Penguin for their unbelievable support of my work. They have made a dream home for me.

Kathryn Court is my wise and gracious editor; Lindsey Schwoeri, her able associate; Brian Tart and Andrea Schulz, crucial supporters; Kate Stark, Carolyn Coleburn, Lindsay Prevette, Lydia Hirt, Mary Stone, Meredith Burks, Emma Mohney, John Lawton, Christopher Dufault, Erin Reilly, Morgan Green, Phil Budnick, John Fagan, Kate Griggs, Candy Gianetti, Francesca Belanger, Paul Buckley, Nayon Cho, Victoria Savanh, Paul Slovak, and Clare Ferraro are all proof that publishing is full of people who love books and reading and live in a world inspired by these things. I sincerely apologize if I have inadvertently left someone out as I know so many people worked so hard to produce this book.

In the UK, Julian Alexander and Clare Smith have been long-standing and ardent supporters.

My former teachers Chang-rae Lee and Abby Thomas continue to light the way with their inspiring work.

Katherine Olivetti and Alia Eyres shared professional insights on psychotherapy and local adoption in Hong Kong. Any errors in interpreting the knowledge they were kind enough to dispense are my own.

Gratitude to my parents, my brother’s family, and the extended Bae family.

And lastly and most, most importantly, BIG love and wonder for my family:

Joe, Owen, Daniel, Sarah, and James: Everything would be nothing without you.