31 replies to this topic

[FullofJoy]

I think those Chinese who left their HOMELAND so that their life can have a better life for their family I think THEY deserve all the RESPECT. They start from scratch in a foreign land and being tortured, being bullied, taking advantage but they never give up and I guess that is in a true Chinese Blood. My dad always told me that A CHINESE SURVIVE anywhere in the world. Well.. I am indeed proud of my grandfather !!!

[General_Zhaoyun]

One thing I notice about Overseas Chinese is that they still maintain some form of cultural identity even though they are outside China themselves.

[许-89]

That's correct:)

[Kulong]

One thing I notice about Overseas Chinese is that they still maintain some form of cultural identity even though they are outside China themselves.

Maybe for oversea Chinese outside of the West, namely the U.S. Many second, third or fourth generation oversea Chinese in the U.S. have completely blend in with the mainstream society without keeping their own cultural identity. Quite sad.

[FullofJoy]

Maybe for oversea Chinese outside of the West, namely the U.S. Many second, third or fourth generation oversea Chinese in the U.S. have completely blend in with the mainstream society without keeping their own cultural identity. Quite sad.

I guess is sometimes how the parents bring them up and what is instill in their life while their growing up... That they should be proud of being a chinese and they should be proud of chinese culture.... and It is always Cooler to sound and look like a westerner....

SO all you Oversea Chinese out there BE PRoud that YOu are a CHINESE and Live like one !! hahaha

[Gubook Janggoon]

Maybe for oversea Chinese outside of the West, namely the U.S. Many second, third or fourth generation oversea Chinese in the U.S. have completely blend in with the mainstream society without keeping their own cultural identity. Quite sad.

I think assimilation's bound to happen anywhere when you get to around the third or fourth generation. It's just one of those crazy things that happen, your culture becomes the one of the country you're living in.

[somechineseperson]

Mere survival is not good enough. Man does not live on bread alone.

Many overseas Chinese people lose their ethnic identity.

[snowybeagle]

Isn't it really up to the individuals?

Many Italians and Irish in the USA continued to retain strong cultural links to Italy & Ireland respectively after many generations.

They might not be able to speak much of the Italian or Irish language, nor be in touch with Italian/Irish history, literature etc., but they still feel themselves having Italian/Irish cultural roots.

[MengTzu]

I think those Chinese who left their HOMELAND so that their life can have a better life for their family I think THEY deserve all the RESPECT. They start from scratch in a foreign land and being tortured, being bullied, taking advantage but they never give up and I guess that is in a true Chinese Blood. My dad always told me that A CHINESE SURVIVE anywhere in the world. Well.. I am indeed proud of my grandfather !!!

The Chinese who struggled in a foreign land are certainly worthy of praise. Many Chinese immigrants died during the building of the Pacific Railroad.

Things have changed, though. The recent immigrants of the past few decades (including myself) from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China are usually well to do or at least middle class. They usually don't start from scratch in the foreign land.

[LYY]

Things have changed, though. The recent immigrants of the past few decades (including myself) from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China are usually well to do or at least middle class. They usually don't start from scratch in the foreign land.

The immigrant at the time of 1949 when the Mainland is taken over by the Communist is in fact the cream of the society. In nineties, immigrant from Hong Kong has always beefed up the property industry in the foreign land.

[CARDINAL009]

Maybe for oversea Chinese outside of the West, namely the U.S. Many second, third or fourth generation oversea Chinese in the U.S. have completely blend in with the mainstream society without keeping their own cultural identity. Quite sad.

DO agree with that point.

As a 2nd gen (ABC), this Cardinal I can still read and write some Chinese. Most of my friends can barely read a menu.

It can be quite an embarassing situation when my non-asian friends can read the menu better than them.

[esse]

I think assimilation's bound to happen anywhere when you get to around the third or fourth generation. It's just one of those crazy things that happen, your culture becomes the one of the country you're living in.

You have to assimilate to thrive in the environment you live in.

Over-sea Asians IMO are successful financially -- many of them have become doctors, engineers, lawyers, e.t.c but how many of them are truly happy with their choices? I want to see more kids picking liberal art majors that they like rather than the bio/computer related fields they felt they had to.

[adoo]

....Many Italians and Irish in the USA continued to retain strong cultural links to Italy & Ireland respectively after many generations.

They might not be able to speak much of the Italian or Irish language, nor be in touch with Italian/Irish history, literature etc., but they still feel themselves having Italian/Irish cultural roots.

you're mis-informed on this one.

almost all of the descendants of Irish immigrants (to the US) have inter-married w other nationalities/races; such that, effectively, there is no pure "Irish" American. The most well-known Irish families in American include the Kennedys, Rockafella, etc. They all have inter-married w other nationalities.

The same for Italian immigrants, perhaps to a lesser degree.

Things have changed, though. The recent immigrants of the past few decades (including myself) from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China are usually well to do or at least middle class. They usually don't start from scratch in the foreign land.

My grandfather bought papers to immigrate to the US in the '50s. He started from scrath; starting out, his family (wife and kids) lived in the garage of a relative.

As a 2nd gen (ABC), this Cardinal I can still read and write some Chinese. Most of my friends can barely read a menu.

As a 3rd gen Chinese American, growing up in America, i saw no need to learn Chinese, & rebelled against going to Chinese school on the week-ends. To adjust my attitude, my parents sent me to attend middle school in HK.

In retrospect, I must say it was wise for my parents to do so. the experience has expanded my horizon.

Edited by adoo, 31 December 2005 - 06:03 PM.

[snowybeagle]

almost all of the descendants of Irish immigrants (to the US) have inter-married w other nationalities/races; such that, effectively, there is no pure "Irish" American. The most well-known Irish families in American include the Kennedys, Rockafella, etc. They all have inter-married w other nationalities.

Inter-marrying with other ethnicities does not mean they lost or gave up on their Irish heritage.
They can still retain it, through many different ways.

It might seem superficial, but St. Patrick's Day brings out the Irish in most, even if it's just the drinking.

[urofpersia]

It might seem superficial, but St. Patrick's Day brings out the Irish in most, even if it's just the drinking.

Consider as well the St Patrick's Day celebrations in many cities of the US (with the parade and all) and I think its fair to say while Irish culture have been assimilated into the general American culture (perhaps warped out of recognition but hey its the thought that counts...) it is still celebrated and accepted by all.

Currently no Asian festival is on the same level in the States.