Memoir
Date Published: August 15, 2024
Publisher: MindStir Media
The memoir, Dreaming from the Trunk of an American Car, recounts a story
shared by many immigrants who are in pursuit of the American dream. Through
intertwining his personal experiences with those of his ancestors, the
author guides readers through his formative years and journey to adulthood.
At the age of twenty, Pashko Camaj and his twin sister, Drita, travel from
former Yugoslavia to Mexico with the goal of reaching the United States.
They cross the border hidden in the trunk of a large American car into
California, seeking freedom and opportunity. Locked in the trunk, memories
flood in and dreams begin. Told in beautiful prose, the memoir portrays the
heroic spirits of its characters, radiating rays of hope in a harsh world.
As a first-generation immigrant, he grapples with feelings of guilt for
departing from his motherland, the very land his predecessors had fought and
labored for. The weight of his choice to leave lingers, prompting him to
question whether he has betrayed his forefathers. Ultimately, he arrives at
a resolution that liberates him from the burdens of the past, enabling him
to establish a new legacy in his new homeland.
INTERVIEW
Tell me more about your journey as an author, including the writing processes.
I am an avid reader and love ‘human-interest’ stories, memoirs, and novels in particular.
Tell me about your Book
If the reader is an immigrant or if they know someone who has emigrated, they will find themselves in my story, which can be treated as a universal phenomenon. Through gripping narratives, the reader will ‘live’ the challenges and struggles the first generation faces as they adapt to a new world, confronting the fact that their thoughts always return to the most impactful times of their lives—their childhood and early adulthood. In my case, the first twenty years of my life shaped me the most. These years constitute the essence of my story, related to our past in my country of origin as an Albanian from Montenegro (former Yugoslavia).
In my book, I try to answer a simple question I asked myself many times since the day I left my homeland back in 1985. The question that echoed in my mind was if I sinned against my forefathers by leaving my homeland, everything I knew, and everything my forefathers lived for centuries. In answering my question, I recount the events that pushed me to take the trip and forever depart from my homeland. I time-travel back to my early childhood and reminisce on the moments that not only impacted me but also my parents and ancestors, who can no longer tell their stories. Their gut-wrenching and sometimes heroic stories paint a picture of a world and a life that seems so distant to today’s generation
Any message for our readers
Through these stories, I try to send a message to those who come after the first generation here in our new country. I hope that they, as they become proud Americans and live the ‘American dream,’ can always know where they come from and preserve our centuries-old heritage through that knowledge.
Story
As I was preparing to leave the place I called home, I felt my last bit of happiness disappear. A thorn of sadness pricked me, realizing I only had a few hours before it was time to go. I paced our front and back yards repeatedly and walked past every familiar inch of our entire parched land. Even though they had been cut years ago, I could almost see the mulberry trees in our front yard in the full green and lush glow of spring. The hanging rope that we used as a swing was still tied to one of the big branches. I walked by our small garden and its neat rows of vegetables, to which I brought water many times. A gentle breeze that came from the south warmed my face as if to send greetings from Lake Shkodra, the place that mesmerized me each time I visited.
My mind was racing with thoughts of how it would be to live in a different country, a place much larger than I had been accustomed to. I wondered about what would happen to my dreams of going to college and medical school and worried that those dreams would be even harder to achieve there. I did not have any of the answers, but I had made up my mind, and I was leaving everything that I had known to be my home. I wanted to say one more goodbye to everything around me, every living creature, the birds, the cicadas.
So, I kept walking and walking. I walked out of our village and over to Vuksanaj, where my elementary school was, next to the graveyard. I felt compelled to see my dad’s resting place once more. I pushed the gate open and walked through a line of unremarkable headstones that some say are several hundred years old. Remnants of signs and symbols that had been etched on the faces of the stones were barely recognizable. Father time had erased the faces of these stoic edifices. Soon, I found myself in front of our family tomb, a two-level concrete structure with a gray and aging cross atop it and a set of discolored rosaries wrapped around it. A few plastic flowers were placed at the grave’s gate, stained with burned-out candles that my mom must have placed there. “I am leaving tomorrow with Drita,” I said as I placed my hand over the cross. “I am sorry if I am disappointing you, Dad,” I continued before my tears fell on top of the cement tomb. I watched my teardrops fade into the hot cement. They quickly disappeared, as if something pulled them through, as if they were trying to reach my dad. I looked to the west, and the red sun was sinking behind the mountain rim in the distance. A soft summer breeze blew across my face again, and it was as if my dad had said, “Go now, my Coco. I will always be with you.”
About the Author
Pashko R. Camaj is a Montenegrin-born author, public health expert, and
community leader whose life journey embodies the resilience and
determination of the immigrant experience. Born in 1964 in Montenegro, he
completed his high school education and mandatory military service before
making a daring escape to the United States in 1985. Accompanied by his twin
sister, Drita, Pashko crossed the U.S.-Mexico border hidden in the trunk of
an American car, a pivotal moment that became the foundation of his powerful
memoir, Dreaming from the Trunk of an American Car.
Driven by a passion for education and personal growth, Pashko pursued
higher learning, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in
environmental and occupational health sciences from the City University of
New York. He later completed his Doctor of Public Health at Columbia
University, showcasing his dedication to improving lives through research
and leadership.
Currently, Pashko serves in senior leadership at MTA-Bridges & Tunnels,
a state transportation agency in New York, and as an adjunct professor at
William Paterson University in New Jersey. Beyond his professional
accomplishments, he actively contributes to the Albanian-American community
as Secretary of the Pan-Albanian Federation of America (VATRA), the oldest
American-Albanian organization in the United States.
Dreaming from the Trunk of an American Car is Pashko’s debut memoir,
a poignant and inspiring story that reflects his journey, honors his
ancestors, and celebrates the indomitable spirit of those in pursuit of a
better life. When he’s not teaching, working, or writing, Pashko
enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in community
service.
Contact Link
Website
Purchase Link
Amazon
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