Emigrating, Staying, and Returning

Abstract

This chapter explores the ways temporalities of migration are manifested in the intimate lives of older immigrants. It addresses the temporal, structural, cultural, and contextual factors that shape their changing relations to home and host societies at different points of their lives. It also illustrates the historical backgrounds against which aging immigrants aspired to migrate to the United States and their perceptions of “America” and “American” in relation to Taiwan. The chapter chronicles the senior immigrants' views of the American dream through their stories. It examines the aging immigrants' assessments of transnational opportunities and restrictions and their changing notions of membership in home and host societies in later life.