Fairfield alumnus Gerald Abbey '04, author of "Cheers, Beers & Eastern Promise," his memoir of his Fulbright Scholar year in Taiwan, will read from his work on Wednesday, March 5, at the University's Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center Presentation Room. Abbey's talk begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

"Cheers, Beers & Eastern Promise" is a funny and illuminating look at a young American man who journeyed to a small village on the other side of the globe in 2004. He spent a year teaching English as a foreign language, then moved to Taipei and continued teaching for a second year before returning to America. "I landed in Taiwan as an ignorant and incapable foreigner from Philadelphia armed with optimism, hope and a willingness to fail," he wrote on his website. "But in the rubble I found my fresh start, ready to tackle new obstacles on the way to learning lessons about life that I still carry with me nine years later."

Abbey holds a degree in English education from Fairfield University. He worked on his book for eight years before it was published in December 2013.

"Gerry has a keen intellect and a strong inquisitive spirit - these abstract adjectives came through with concrete specificity in his writing - lucid, logical argument structures, clear prose, and excellent wit in his papers," said Gita Rajan, Ph.D., professor of English, who has successfully mentored five Fulbright students at Fairfield University. "It is no surprise then to see these qualities expressed in his book, and his provocative title."

Abbey's Fairfield appearance is sponsored by the University's Department of English, JUHAN, Student Programs and Leadership Development.

For more information on this event, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Posted On: 02-19-2014 11:02 AM

Volume: 46 Number: 177