American Born Chinese not a misfit, but a bridge connecting two worlds
Print Edition
In my Native Mandarin Literature class, we were recently discussing social issues in China. We covered a variety of topics, from food safety to education. My teacher stressed that the purpose of our discussions was to focus on our own analytical thinking and understanding regarding these issues. To that end, we were asked to choose a relatable topic and prepare a TED Talk to present to our peers. The guidelines were relatively straightforward — identify a social issue pertaining to your own life, elaborate on it using statistics and examples, and discuss possible resolutions.
At first, finding a topic I could relate to was a bit challenging. How could I talk about the Chinese education system when I have had a Western education my entire life? Or how could I possibly discuss China’s controversial One-Child Policy when I have had little to no exposure to the subject? After brainstorming with my teacher, I settled on the cultural phenomenon of ABC’s, or American Born Chinese kids and their sense of cultural belonging. This is a social issue I, and many of my fellow classmates, could definitely relate to, so it seemed the ideal topic for my TED Talk.
There some stigma ABC’s face in China. It’s suggested that they have somehow forsaken their cultural heritage or are denying their roots. Whereas in the States, Chinese Americans are largely seen as connected to China. For some, these negative projections can cause feelings of cultural confusion, something I’ve experienced firsthand.
Last year, I attended The Hotchkiss School in the US, where, during my short tenure, I experienced a bit of an identity crisis. Even though I had been in the Western school system with Western teachers and friends, I did not fully identify as an American. But neither did I fully associate myself as being Chinese — a typical third culture kid reaction.
In all, I was glad to have been given this assignment. Preparing my TED Talk helped me learn about myself, my heritage, as well as my future goals. It also showed me that I am fortunate to attend a school like Concordia where I am able to experience a world-class Western education with all the cultural aspects of China right outside my doorstep. While I may never fully identify as American or Chinese, I am proud to be a third culture kid and, more importantly, a global citizen. I do not see myself or other ABC’s as cultural misfits, but rather cultural bridges that connect two worlds.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
