In the early 1980s, I came to Iowa from Hyderabad, India.
It was a different country, a different pace of life, and, looking back, a different version of myself. Some moments were confusing, some were awkward, many were unintentionally funny, and a few stayed with me longer that I expected.
This short ebook is a collection of five such stories. I’m not selling it – it’s simply something I wanted to write down and share with friends and family. If you choose to read even one story, I hope it brings a smile or a sense of recognition.
What’s Inside
The book includes five short, self-contained stories drawn from my early years as an immigrant in Iowa in the 1980s. They touch on:
- First encounters with small-town America
- Cultural misunderstandings that only make sense in hindsight
- The quiet humor of learning how to belong
- Nostalgia for a time when everything felt unfamiliar
The tone is light and occasionally self-deprecating–more about observing than explaining.
Who might enjoy this
You might enjoy this ebook if you:
- Have lived through an immigrant or “starting over” experience
- Appreciate gentle humor rooted in real life
- Like short reads you can pick up and put down easily
It’s approximately 32 pages long and can be read in one sitting- or one story at a time.
Read the ebook
- The ebook is free and always will be.
- No email, no sign-up — just a simple pdf
Feedback
If you do read it – even just one story – I’d love to hear what stayed with you. A memory it reminded you of, a moment that made you smile, or even something that surprised you.
-Yash
RecoveringNostalgic 