I first heard my mom use the term "ABC" as a young girl (I don't remember exactly when), but it has stuck with me ever since.
Simply, what "American Born Chinese" means to me is that I treasure my Chinese heritage, but who I am is American. I was born in Knoxville, Tenn. I am used to American lifestyle and culture so how I act is American, but I do not hide the fact that I take pride in the Chinese inside of me.
Sure, sometimes I feel different, especially growing up in primarily Caucasian American communities, but it also makes me unique. I mean, it's great having teachers and fellow students remember my name and face right away because I'm one of the only Asians in the school. At those times, I'm not easily forgotten, which is nice. But in all seriousnes, not many Americans have Chinese middle names or have three languages spoken in their house daily. (My mom is a native Cantonese speak and my dad speaks Mandarin). My mom cooks the best authentic Chinese food in the world. She even makes "Chinese fries," which are delicious.
No matter how many squinty-eyes jokes or "ching chung chang" catcalls I get, I will always love being American born Chinese. I love being immersed in two rich cultures and learning the deep heritages of both, including food, clothing, languages, jokes, lifestyles, and economies. It's interesting because I have been able to contribute in class about Chinese culture. For example, in Macroeconomics, my professor asked me to ask my parents for the reasons why Hong Kong and Taiwan are so successful economically. It was exciting to have the opportunity to share my culture and I hope people are able to expand their global knowledge because of it.
There is so much out there to learn. Globalization isn't about to slow down anytime soon. Intercultural knowledge is valuable. That's why I feel so blessed to be a part of two cultures who are so influential in the world today. I hope to be a bridge between these two cultures and promote communication and goodwill between China and the U.S. And maybe share my love for my culture to as many people as I can along the way.
Thanks for reading!
Are Chinese Real Americans? http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/04/13/are-chinese-americans-real-americans-or-why-cant-you-all-go-by-kathy/
Chinese Culture Center http://www.c-c-c.org/
No matter how many squinty-eyes jokes or "ching chung chang" catcalls I get, I will always love being American born Chinese. I love being immersed in two rich cultures and learning the deep heritages of both, including food, clothing, languages, jokes, lifestyles, and economies. It's interesting because I have been able to contribute in class about Chinese culture. For example, in Macroeconomics, my professor asked me to ask my parents for the reasons why Hong Kong and Taiwan are so successful economically. It was exciting to have the opportunity to share my culture and I hope people are able to expand their global knowledge because of it.
There is so much out there to learn. Globalization isn't about to slow down anytime soon. Intercultural knowledge is valuable. That's why I feel so blessed to be a part of two cultures who are so influential in the world today. I hope to be a bridge between these two cultures and promote communication and goodwill between China and the U.S. And maybe share my love for my culture to as many people as I can along the way.
Thanks for reading!
Are Chinese Real Americans? http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/04/13/are-chinese-americans-real-americans-or-why-cant-you-all-go-by-kathy/
Chinese Culture Center http://www.c-c-c.org/
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ReplyDeleteWhat an insightful post! It is so great to hear how you are finding an identity growing up immersed in these two cultures! I like how you relate your unique life experiences and understandings to how you see yourself contributing in a meaningful way! I encourage you to continue to build bridges and relationships to maximize the depth of your experiences! Wo Ai Ni
ReplyDeleteAriella, this is great. I like how you are able to embrace and work in both cultures and know the benefits to each one. I can't imagine growing up with three languages in my house and such a rich mix of cultures, but Im glad you did. Its also sweet that you want to use this unique gift to make a positive impact on the world. Good work!
ReplyDeleteThis blog was so intriguing. How lucky you are that you have such insight into so many different cultures! I wish I had that! I also really liked the part about how you want to be a bridge between cultures, and it sounds like you already are doing that!
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