lundi 26 janvier 2009
To celebrate or not to
So apparently, it's Chinese New Year. And it's something I've hesitated about taking part in during the past decade. When I was younger, I went along with it and participated in some celebratory activities but I was never much enthused about it. Then, when I became a Christian, I pretty much ignored the holiday and still do to this day. It's not so much that I think there's something wrong with recognizing such an event but that I've never really had a reason to take it that seriously. I've tried hard to distance myself from any form of Chinese mythology and superstition, and especially the religious beliefs and practices that are contrary to my biblical faith, but that leaves me wondering what is left that I can celebrate. And if I want to be totally consistent with this, can I in full knowledge accept things like red envelopes?
Having never been to a Chinese church or spent much time with other Chinese people, especially Chinese Christians, I struggle with knowing how to embrace parts of my culture and how to refrain from other aspects. One of my coworkers is Chinese and she mentioned that even though her family is Christian, she always believed that her children should take part in things like Chinese New Year because they are a visible minority and will inevitably be asked about these things. I think it's a good reason but not strong enough to convince me that I need to be celebrating this holiday. At the same time, I don't want to act as though I'm shunning everything that is related to Chinese culture. It's ironic that I wrote a thesis (partly) on how Christ has come to redeem culture and yet I have the most difficult time knowing where to even start with the Chinese culture.
Libellés : culture
lundi 29 janvier 2007
So not Asian
It all started last month when one of my friends from high school invited me to join Facebook. I had come across it before but couldn't join because my school wasn't listed, which I'm actually grateful for since it is quite addictive. Anyways, with the opening up of the service to everybody, I've been able to reconnect with friends that I haven't talked to since grade 12. Through reading their profiles and whatever else you can do on there, I've come to see just how "not Asian" I am as compared to them. I didn't realize this then but seeing as how I have had very limited contact with people of my ethnic group since graduating from high school, that would make me unaware of such things. I attribute this to attending a Christian college where I was one of two Chinese people in the whole school and to my church where I used to be one of the few Asians in the congregation (that's changed now!).
I've always been more of a "banana" - yellow on the outside, white on the inside - or in more technical terms, more of a Canadian than a Chinese person, so naturally I didn't gravitate towards those Chinese cliques that you find in schools. I was even surprised that I had Chinese friends in high school - growing up, I believed that I was incapable of being around Chinese people because I was constantly getting into fights with them! I'm glad God got me out of that flawed mindset :) But even so, I'm much more comfortable being in a multi-ethnic setting or even with an entire group of Caucasians, which has happened to me on numerous occasions, than I would be with a roomful of Chinese people. Admittedly, I've never been to a Chinese church and the last all-Asian gathering that I went to had me squirming in my seat the whole time. I've accepted the fact that I am Chinese and that my ethnicity is a major part of my life and my faith, but I've also come to terms with the fact that my culture is primarily Canadian.
When some of my friends came back after teaching in China, I was amazed at how much they seemed to adapt to the culture and made it their own. I even joked that they were more Chinese than I was and although I said this in sarcasm initially, I'm wondering if it's true. I don't do a lot of the things that Chinese people tend to do (you know, the stereotypes of hanging out in Chinatown, singing karaoke, fighting over the bill, studying to be a doctor/engineer, playing badminton/ping-pong, etc.) and some of the things that are important to them, I don't necessarily treat it as so (side note: if I could rid the world of one thing, it would be Chinese superstition). There are many times where I feel like such a foreigner when I'm around Asians, first or second-generation, unless they've been as assimilated to the "majority culture" as I have been.
On the other hand, I know that I'm not completely Canadian either - my childhood obviously differs from the typical Canadian childhood. But it's a world that breeds familiarity with me and one that I feel most connected to; it's the world that allows me to exclaim, "I am so not Asian!" half a dozen times, even though I am on all appearances. I never used to pay much attention to my bi-culturalism but after writing part of my thesis on this topic, it's something that doesn't escape my mind anymore. It's a constant struggle with my identity, an understanding of the person that God has created me to be, but it's nice to know that it's an issue I'm learning more about all the time. When all is said and done at the end of the day, I'm not concerned with whether I'm as Asian as I should or shouldn't be, I'm concerned with how much I am living as a child of God.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28
mardi 27 juin 2006
Head tax redress
I wasn't aware of it at the time but June 22, 2006 was an important date in Canadian history. It was the day when Prime Minister Stephen Harper made official apology to the Chinese-Canadian community for the Head Tax and the Exclusion Act. I was able to watch the ceremony marking the Canadian government's Chinese Head Tax redress on CPAC last night and it was incredibly moving. To be honest, I didn't think I would see such an event take place this soon, least of all this year (even with the news conference in January). It was especially meaningful to me because I wrote about this topic in my thesis paper in addition to viewing two documentaries in Montreal dealing with the same subject (the documentaries were Under the Willow Tree: Pioneer Chinese Women in Canada [1997] and In the Shadow of Gold Mountain [2004]). I'm not a descendant of the Chinese railroad workers but my heart breaks for them.
This is probably something that most Canadians are just learning about, myself included. The treatment of the Chinese immigrants in Canada was not something we ever touched upon in Social Studies, which is most unfortunate. Imagine my shock when I was conducting research for my paper and I found out that Chinese people were the only people ever blatantly discriminated against in Canada. To be singled out for their ethnicity, to be forced to pay the head tax, and to ultimately be prohibited from entering the country who required their labour but barred them from the official ceremonies for the Canadian Pacific Railway - no wonder July 1 became Humiliation Day to the Chinese.
The fact that these shameful acts in Canadian history are coming to light and are being recognized for their wrong must be a relief to the Chinese who had to suffer all those years ago. I can't believe that it has taken until now for the government to quit refusing to apologize - I think it says a lot about the current government that they acted quickly on this matter with consultation at the grassroots level to ensure that the people most affected from this could voice their opinions directly to the political leaders. I almost broke out in applause after hearing that Prime Minister Harper, Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney and Heritage Minister Bev Oda travelled across Canada to meet with the surviving head tax payers and their families (not to mention, attempt to speak Chinese on television and in parliament)!
I am so grateful that for once, we have a government in power that is willing to admit their mistakes and to apologize to the people they have hurt. It's rare but I pray that the Conservative government continues to lead and act in this spirit of humility. Considering that they have done everything they could to hold this ceremony before Canada Day this year speaks volumes - I am proud of our Prime Minister and his policies. I know a lot of people were wondering if the descendants of the head tax payers would receive redress, but the government took a wise approach with this. They are compensating those who had to pay but not the descendants; instead, they are going to be investing in social and cultural programs so that future Chinese-Canadians and Canadians can learn from the past. It's not often that I can speak admiringly of our political leaders (sponsorship scandal anyone?) but I can't help but truly feel like a Chinese-Canadian now after watching that ceremony.
On a lighter note, I remember passing PM Harper's campaign office every time I took the bus to church in high school. It was located just above Chinatown - who knew that one day he would be the one to make the overdue apology to all Chinese-Canadians? Praise God that it has finally taken place and thank you Lord that I was able to see it!
vendredi 7 avril 2006
Return of the five
Today's is quite short so I'll be answering another set in addition to this one:
1. Do you like chicken? Yes please! It is one of the few meats that I actually eat and will eat the most frequently.
2. What is one food you can't live without? Bread. I was going to say pizza but I can always make it using bread....
3. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Unfortunately a night owl; I wish I could change that.
4. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla.
5. Are you more of a cat person or a dog person? Neither since I'm not an animal person at all. But if I really had to choose, dogs more so than cats.
And these are the answers to March 23, 2006's questions:
1) Of the various cultures, ethnicities or nationalities you belong to, which most strongly do you consider yourself?
My nationality is Canadian, my ethnicity is Chinese and my culture is Chinese-Canadian. While there have been times that I have rejected one or the other, I think I'm at a point now where I feel most strongly Chinese-Canadian.
2) Is there a culture you cannot claim heritage from but which you feel quite close to?
Perhaps French-Canadian now that I'm spending more time here but it's probably more my heart for the people than feeling like I am a French-Canadian myself. And when I read English literature and poetry, I always wonder if I wasn't supposed to be English :)
3) What's one language you wish you knew fluently?
The most obvious is French. But it would be nice to know Cantonese fluently as well; I always feel like the odd duck out for not speaking it.
4) If you could move anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a job, etc., where would you go?
I'd automatically say Montreal but Western Europe sounds really nice too.
5) If you had a time machine, and could witness any one event without altering or disturbing it, what would you want to see?
I'm fascinated by the Tudor dynasty although I cannot think of any one particular event I'd like to witness. As the stipulation said, I would only want to observe it rather than participate in it (I like where I am in the present moment).
Libellés : culture, Friday Five
lundi 27 mars 2006
Gracious living
Irene has written a piece about how "Chinese culture teaches you nothing about grace" and from my personal experience, I can see how it is true. I have had such a hard time explaining this concept to my parents and what makes it difficult is that they see it as a silly idea.
"Why would anyone do something for nothing?" is a common expression I've heard growing up and I've always been taught that I need to repay every kindness I experience in life. As I have been pursuing missions work, I know there are going to be times where I will need to rely on the grace of others. But at the same time, I know that it is unsettling to my parents that there are people not related to me who would want to support me.
The most heart-breaking part is that when I talk about how I am saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and not by the works I perform, it is completely alien to my family. Despite this, I have been convicted that the more I show grace to my own parents, the more they will start to understand it. So I suppose I have to keep working on that then, only with the grace of God of course :)
Libellés : Christian life, culture
mercredi 16 novembre 2005
How sad
"However, as world globalises, the language [Teochew] is losing popularity among the native speakers. In Singapore, due to common culture and influences from media, Singaporean Chinese youths whose native language is Teochew are either converting to English, Standard Mandarin or Hokkien. Teochew remains the native language of many Chinese people in Singapore (Teochew people are 2nd largest group in Singapore, after the Hokkiens), although Mandarin is gradually supplanting Teochew as their mother tongue, especially among the younger generations."Every time I hear someone speak Mandarin, I always wonder if there was another language that they originally spoke before switching to China's national language. While a uniform tongue does help with communication, it is leading to the death of many beautiful languages and dialects. What a tragedy.
- Source
jeudi 22 janvier 2004
Happy New Year!
Chinese, that is. I know I'm a bit late with this (I've had classes all day) but Gung he fat choi sun nein fi lock.
This is a part of a prayer that someone said today in class:
God, you must love the Chinese people soooo much. That's why you've created so many of them.
Hmm, I had never thought of it in that way before. How true. Considering that 1 out of every 5 people on earth is Chinese. God must have incredibly big plans for them :)
Just found at Tracy's Emporium of Ultra-Funny Links this hilarious music video. You have to have a sense of humour to watch it, so be forewarned!
*Update: Seems I already linked to another version of this song last month.
Libellés : culture
