Five Countries

Alexander Borges defied the odds. Growing up under the heavy cloud of Nazi Germany during World War II, he overcame polio, survived Allied air raids, and escaped the clutches of East German communism. With a knack for learning languages and a can-do attitude that served him well in a variety of work environments and cultures, he ended up serving as a civil engineer on some of the largest dams designed and built in the 1960s through early '80s. This inspirational memoir is a story of survival and success that spans seven decades and five countries and shows how a positive attitude and a love of people can fuel a fulfilling life.