"I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir" said Alice
June 13, 2013 5:47 PM Subscribe
I'm a ABC (American-born Chinese) or Chinese-American depending on who you ask, and I've always felt like a fish out of water.
My parents immigrated from China to NY, USA and I grew up in the suburbs just outside the city. For most of my school years I've assimilated into the regular lifestyle.
There were 1-4 other Chinese students in the grade but I never really talked to them due to different classes and hobbies. I did attend weekend Chinese school for a brief time but I stopped because I resented attending classes during my free time. My family usually speaks to me in a mix of Chinese and English, so I am able to understand 75% of spoken Chinese.
Simply, I cannot read or reply in Mandarin to any of their conversations. This is awkward as when I mention this fact to other Chinese people I end up being ignored or somehow not-chinese. I have read American Born Chinese and I did relate to the main character.
At the same time I feel that I am too "foreign" in American society but I'm not "Chinese" enough to fit in with everyone else.
My parents immigrated from China to NY, USA and I grew up in the suburbs just outside the city. For most of my school years I've assimilated into the regular lifestyle.
There were 1-4 other Chinese students in the grade but I never really talked to them due to different classes and hobbies. I did attend weekend Chinese school for a brief time but I stopped because I resented attending classes during my free time. My family usually speaks to me in a mix of Chinese and English, so I am able to understand 75% of spoken Chinese.
Simply, I cannot read or reply in Mandarin to any of their conversations. This is awkward as when I mention this fact to other Chinese people I end up being ignored or somehow not-chinese. I have read American Born Chinese and I did relate to the main character.
At the same time I feel that I am too "foreign" in American society but I'm not "Chinese" enough to fit in with everyone else.
This post was deleted for the following reason: There isn't a question here, hit us up on the contact form for a rewrite/edit if you'd like this to get posted. -- mathowie
I would offer vague words of encouragement via memail, because this question is probably going to get deleted for vagueness. However, your memail is disabled.
posted by Nomyte at 5:51 PM on June 13, 2013
posted by Nomyte at 5:51 PM on June 13, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sweetkid at 5:49 PM on June 13, 2013