Dear Reader, 

Don't chase a dream. Become the Dream itself!

I Am the American Dream is dedicated to all who courageously dare to DREAM, no matter where you are in the world. 

This book is about two immigrants who came to America from two distinct countries and share the same American Dream. We tell the stories of how we followed our childhood dreams from Cambodia and Hong Kong. Our paths finally crossed in America decades later.   

“Two souls, two journeys, till their paths crossed, becoming one life…”

We do not portray the American Dream as superior to any country’s dream. We write about facing bullying, racism, discrimination, loss of hope, and family challenges between two cultures (Asian and American). We share how we chose the nontraditional path to breakthrough, thinking outside the box, maintaining a positive mindset, and embracing our differences. 

We moved to America for freedom and opportunities. We realized no one handed us the American Dream; we had to work hard for it. For over 45 years, we never gave up. Along our journey, we discovered one profound truth: the Dream isn’t something you chase; we are the Dream!

This unique blend of memoir, vivid imagery, and poetry is inspired by Chu's work in Oscar-winning films like The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Finding Dory, and Coco. Each scene is crafted as a standalone short story, capturing a spectrum of emotions that will deeply resonate with you. 

A picture is worth a thousand words; this book is enriched by stunning original artwork illustrated by two talented New Zealand artists. You will ponder each illustration as if admiring a painting in a museum.

Four generations’ worth of stories, woven together, form the backbone of this book. The stories are a shocking yet heartwarming collection that showcases the growth and resilience of the human spirit and delivers hearty laughs along the way.

This book is as real and raw as it gets. We hope you will be curious to open it and ready to be inspired :).

With Love,

Chu & Wayne