Essay Questions

What do all of the characters in the individual stories have in common?

All of the characters in the stories have hard existences that they realize would be exponentially easier if they were to flee to the west. The proof of this pudding, so to speak, is the two young immigrants we meet in the last story who have never met before but find that their shared experiences as new immigrants in New York create an instant friendship.

The young refugee girl who lives in Bhutan had originally believed that she would have an easier life if she just left Nepal. She flees to Bhutan but finds that all of the countries in the Nepalese diaspora are alike in the difficulties that people experience.They all come to realize that they need to move to the west in order to see any positive changes in their life.

Why does the retired woman contemplate an affair?

The retired woman has only recently retired and this is making her see herself in a very different light. She previously had a purpose each day, and a schedule that she needed to keep to in order to get the job done. Now she does not have that and she is starting to feel redundant, not just professionally but also personally. She is also rather bored, and looking to spice up her life a little.

The story is called Passing Fancy because she has a passing fancy for a new and illicit relationship that will make her feel less obsolete. Although she contemplates having an affair it is not something that she ultimately decides to do, as the fancy passes by.