Comments on: Guest Blogger: John Steinbeck

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:13:17 +0000

@Eric, I would partially agree with your take on the name. In reality,though, it’s utterly stupid for Chinese parents to give theis kids (those born and to be raised in America) authentic Chinese names. Imagine how difficult it would be for their kids later on in school. We have some Chinese friends in America who actually give their kids Chinese names. One girl is constantly mistaken by her teachers as boy because of her Chinese name. Imagine a class with Chinese kids whose names are Ching Chen-Chong, Chong Ching-Ching, Chen Chong-Ching, etc. LOL. I actually had two Taiwanese classmates at graduate school whose names are two of the above combinations. Imagine the confusion from American teachers and students. They were good sports. Everyone had so mych fun with their names. But you definitely don’t want your kids to go through that, though.

My point was that some Americans still look at Chinese kids born in America as Chinese. They will never accept them as equals with their own kids. I have seen them in many schools.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:02:51 +0000

about the name thing though. its not really that they expect you to be a certain way.
in america, people celebrate and embrace their cultural heritage. if immigrants are expected of something, then it is to be true their heritage and add to the melting-pot culturally.
as opposed to brutal assimilation practiced in the early 20th century. when immigrants coming through ellis island were given anglizied and unoriginal names, like johnson.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:42:19 +0000

Living in Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou/Shenzhen and living elsewhere in China is different, perhaps your experience in Fuzhou made you feel the need to “act American” but in those other cities, there isn’t the same expectation and foreigners are accepted. I guess it would be the same in a major US city and the countryside.

That said, there is no legitimate comparison to be made, “Americans” at the beginning of the 20th century were unaccepting of the new “Americans” who were just off the boat, however if they learned the language they were more likely to be accepted. This is a debate over what constitutes an “American”, no foreigner in China will ever be accepted as a Chinese, though.

By: James

James — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:04:30 +0000

Glad to hear your perspective Alan, being as you have more experience with this in the reverse situation that I’m in.

I agree with you that in many places in the US and Canada it would be pretty hard if not impossible for an Asian person (or any ethnicity who doesn’t look like the majority) to integrate. I guess I’m a little biased being from Toronto, with such a diverse population, we’re so used to so many people coming from so many places, people don’t usually ask the odd questions like you mentioned.

I’m actually very surprised that people would ask you why you named your children American names, being as the US (from what I’ve learned) has always had more of an emphasis on assimilation instead of cultural integration.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:53:37 +0000

“But for a person from either of these countries going to the USA or Canada, it can be done.”

James, is that really true? I share your frustration. I think it’s the same in America. Most Americans also have preconveived notions of Asians. It’s human nature. I am Chinese and have been living in America for almost 20 years. I can tell you that many of my American friends still have some strange ideas of what I should be. Worse yet, some even question why I have given my kids American names even though they know our kids were born in America and speak English as their first language. Church is probably the place in America for such a stereotype. Over the years, I have come across enough people at various church settings who were obviously alarmed that I didn’t go by a Chinese name when I introduced myself. Sometimes it’s even hilarious to see their reactions. “Oh, (your name is)Alan. That’s easy to remember.”

With all considered, Asians in general are far more race-minded than Americans.

By: James

James — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:50:48 +0000

Very interesting post Ben. Funny enough I was actually thinking about a bunch of similar things in class.

This topic really frustrates me, mostly because as a foreigner it is impossible to completely integrate into Asian societies like China or Japan. But for a person from either of these countries going to the USA or Canada, it can be done.

During my lifetime and probably that of the generation after me, I don’t think the attitudes and social constructs will change enough to allow this to happen. Especially in such homogeneous societies.

The only two places I can think of that might buck this trend are HK and Singapore, and I’d be interested to see how…say…a black African woman could integrate.