Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Moment I Knew I Was American?
This is actually pretty difficult to answer. Being of Chinese descent but living in American society makes most prospects of life a bit more complicated to figure out.
I really doubt there was anything specific that made me come to realize the American in me. For one thing my memory doesn't go too far back, but from what I do remember, I never gave too much deep thought on my heritage and background. I was who I was. I went to school in English, and went and lived at home in Chinese. Interestingly enough though, I did have an in-between, a place where American and Chinese culture really came together. It was at the after school program I went to at the Chinese-American Service League. Obviously, from the name of the organization, most of the people there were Chinese. However, because all these kids were schooling in the US, there was a lot of English, a lot of American music, American games and activities, and so on. On the other hand, the adults who ran the after school program had grown up in China, so the way they behave is very different. Anyway, I remember once when the teacher there was talking about our culture, and she was emphasizing how we cannot call ourselves Americans, not without the Chinese in there. This is the most specific instance I have in memory of bringing together the two cultures in me. Other times, it's usually just conflict between my parents and I and our disagreeing ideas. It's my constant reminder of the two cultures that are each a huge part of my life, two great and contradicting cultures that will forever drive me crazy.
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I relate to you so much.
ReplyDeleteMy only question (seeing as my past one was deleted) is that, Which do you identify more with, American or Chinese? If you had to choose to be part of just one culture, which would it be? How do you feel most Chinese-American youth are handling it?
ReplyDeleteI gotta say I'm definitely more American, probably because most of my life was spent here, even if I do go home to a Chinese family every day. It's also probably because I feel that it's easier without all the pressure from being Chinese. I find Americans (generally) so much more carefree :D Therefore if I had to choose, I'd probably choose American.
ReplyDeleteAs to how we're handling it..it's different for everyone. Some of us have an easier time because our parents are more Americanized or just lenient and accepting. Others are more traditional. Personally, I'm not too sure of my balance. I suppose it's going well enough..