Cast Thy Bread Upon the Waters

A Novel

In mid-1970's, Jon escapes from Ceausescu's dictatorship in Romania and settles in New York City. Faced with an extremely dynamic and pragmatic environment, and enjoying liberties he had not known before, Jon decides he must earn an American university degree to both enhance his knowledge and have a better chance in a highly competitive job market. He pays for his studies by taking odd jobs, where he meets people and learns the ropes of earning, American-style, one's living. However, the integration process is an arduous task. At times, Jon's enthusiasm crosses moments of disillusion, duplicity, and letdown. Luckily, his campus experience helps him overcome real or imaginary obstacles, bringing him in tune with local custom. Very much like in a bildungsroman narrative, Jon's "American" story is one of reshaping a personality into a more complex human being. His efforts are duly rewarded with finding true love and a reason to be happy thereafter. The biblical prediction-that he would find again the bread he had cast away-is thus fulfilled.