robert ljuba

The second son of a widow who works diligently just to keep herself and her young sons alive, John Ljuba dreams of seeing the world and having a life somewhere beyond the tiny coastal island he calls home. Against overwhelming odds and the numerous naysayers he encounters, this remarkable young man teaches himself not one, but two foreign languages, always preparing to live the life of his dreams in a foreign country. When his chance to immigrate away from Yugoslavia finally comes, John must fight the communist politics of his home country to grasp it. Now a foreigner in a new world, John encounters more obstacles and more wonder than he could have imagined. Through his adventures in Germany and America, we see the spirit of this one, young immigrant grow to outweigh the challenges he faces in realizing his dream.