Episodes

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0120130701At seventeen, Anchee Min was spotted by one of Madame Mao's talent scouts and taken to the Shanghai Film Studio as the embodiment of a proletarian heroine.

But when Madame Mao was denounced, Min was guilty by association and labelled 'a cooked seed' - one who has no chance to sprout.

With no future in her homeland, she dares to dream of living in America. But first she has to work out how to get out of China.

Read by Chipo Chung

Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

Labelled 'a cooked seed', one who has no chance to sprout, Anchee Min wants to leave China

022013070420130702 (R4)Having secured a place to study art at an American college, Anchee Min lands in the States.

She marvels at the luxury of her first American airport but, having lied about her ability to speak English, she is terrified that immigration will turn her back before she can begin her new life.

Read by Chipo Chung

Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

Anchee lands in the US, but as a student with no English, will immigration let her in?

0320130703Anchee Min begins to learn about student culture American style - dancing to Michael Jackson, 'hanging out' at the dorm and trying to learn English by watching Sesame Street.

But the luxury of her new surroundings worries her as she struggles to pay her debt to her Aunt.

Read by Chipo Chung

Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio4.

Anchee Min copes with the culture shock of her luxurious American dorm.

0420130704Anchee Min juggles several jobs along with her university course, in order not to slip further into debt.

Increasingly isolated and homesick, she longs to see her family. But when she finally goes home for a visit, after three years away, she begins to realise how much she has changed.

Read by Chipo Chung

Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC radio 4.

Can Anchee Min juggle several jobs, her studies and debt while being desperately homesick?

05 LAST20130705Still battling to gain the elusive green card, Anchee Min has nevertheless saved enough money to get on the property ladder.

She begins to live the American dream the hard way and, while labouring to keep up with the mortgage payments, she finally finds her voice.

Read by Chipo Chung

Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall

A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4.

Anchee Min begins to live the American dream the hard way, and finally finds her voice.