I just want to have a general idea of how many overseas Chinese people there are who visit this forum. Are there a lot of ABC (American/Australian-born Chinese) here? Or maybe BBC (British-born) or CBC (Canadian-born)? Anyone born elsewhere too? And I also want to know - How have your experiences living in an overseas country shaped how you view yourself or how others view you as Chinese? Personally, for me, life has its ups and downs. Being born in a Chinese family but being raised up in an American society has had a lot of effect on me, the way I adhere to both Westernized and Chinese values since, like many other ABCs, I live in a world defined by both types of influences in my life. However, when I hang out with my non-Chinese friends, many of them view me as very Asian/Chinese-like, often asking me questions like whether I like eating chicken feet or whether people from my mother country eat dogs. Then, when I hang out with my friends who are studying abroad from China or Hong Kong, they view me as being too Westernized, not knowing how to speak Chinese very well or not knowing that much about my own Chinese culture. I've been asked why I have a Chinese name (since I was born in the U.S.) and thought of as someone who was accustomed to using forks rather than chopsticks. It's as if I don't fit in either way. Then, there comes the value system. American values emphasize on individuality and promoting your own self-worth and interests while Chinese values emphasize on filial piety, respecting elders, and placing others before yourself in group settings. Being raised in a Chinese family, I learned to acquire the values of Confucianism and filial piety, but simultaneously, living in a Western environment has prompted me to think more about my own individuality and becoming more self-confident and assertive. Sometimes these two cultural values conflict, and there are times I am confused about what to do or to say when interacting with others in both types of settings. Feel free to share about your own experiences about being an overseas-born Chinese. And even if you aren't overseas-born, you can also feel free to discuss about your own experiences with other overseas-born as well and what you feel/think about them. It's good to share different perspectives.
this is quite true lol but my english group of friends are quite diverse, so they dont say it in anyway offensive, its just curiosity. They see me as British and Chinese (cause though i was born in HK, ive lived in UK most of my life), but I do let em know that I'm Chinese first and foremost for me this is not so much the case, cause i can speak canto fluently, but chinese people still consider me BBC either way, cause ive lived in england so long. i find that they treat all overseas chinese the same, like you are different, but i dont think they think of it as they are better than you, just slightly different. lol i dont get asked why i have a chinese name, they just ask me what my chinese name is and i think they know i can use a chopstick tbh all of the people i know from HK dont really think like that anymore, in fact they are quite westernised themselves, and they only really want to have fun and study when its necessary I personally have been brought up in a chinese fashion but of course im westernised, but I believe in my chinese culture first
Are there a lot of ABC (American/Australian-born Chinese) here? Or maybe BBC (British-born) or CBC (Canadian-born)? Anyone born elsewhere too? ----I'm a CBC And I also want to know - How have your experiences living in an overseas country shaped how you view yourself or how others view you as Chinese? i dunno any other view cause this is the only view i have. i have never been anywhere but Canada. Personally, for me, life has its ups and downs. Being born in a Chinese family but being raised up in an American society has had a lot of effect on me, the way I adhere to both Westernized and Chinese values since, like many other ABCs, I live in a world defined by both types of influences in my life. --Every person on earth has their ups and downs. However, when I hang out with my non-Chinese friends, many of them view me as very Asian/Chinese-like, often asking me questions like whether I like eating chicken feet or whether people from my mother country eat dogs. Then, when I hang out with my friends who are studying abroad from China or Hong Kong, they view me as being too Westernized, not knowing how to speak Chinese very well or not knowing that much about my own Chinese culture. I've been asked why I have a Chinese name (since I was born in the U.S.) and thought of as someone who was accustomed to using forks rather than chopsticks. It's as if I don't fit in either way. ----i grew up in a little town that was predominantly white ppl. to give u an idea, i was the only chinese person in my school. anyways, back then, i used to get a lot of dumb questions--> "do u eat rice everyday?" yes, i've gotten the "have u ever eaten a dog b4?". when i was younger, i felt almost ashamed of who i was because they all made me feel like i was different in a bad way. however, now, it is totally different. I LOVE the fact that i am chinese and have finally understood that those white losers that bugged me when i was young was just dumb and ignorant. btw, i hate forks. i don't understand them and hate using them. i LOVE my chopsticks! Then, there comes the value system. American values emphasize on individuality and promoting your own self-worth and interests while Chinese values emphasize on filial piety, respecting elders, and placing others before yourself in group settings. Being raised in a Chinese family, I learned to acquire the values of Confucianism and filial piety, but simultaneously, living in a Western environment has prompted me to think more about my own individuality and becoming more self-confident and assertive. Sometimes these two cultural values conflict, and there are times I am confused about what to do or to say when interacting with others in both types of settings. ---I was in the same conflict. Prob still am. i have just learned to compromise. or at times, go with one side only. at the end of the day, it really is just about how u live ur own life. for me, as long as i'm not hurting anyone and happy myself then it's okay. my family sometimes suffocates me to death with values and traditions, but i think i've learned to deal with it. but i think they've finally figured out that i can't live my life for them. at the same time, my parents have sorta kinda figured out that second generation chinese are growing up differently then the way they grew up and have come to understand that there will be differences, well, that's how my parents have seem to come to.
Well, generally speaking, my friends - for the most part - don't treat me with a condescending type of attitude simply because I'm different. Sometimes, the more we talk to one another, the more we build up an understanding of who we are when we are able to exchange ideas and feelings, and as a result, we learn quick to respect each other's cultural identities. Even in my case as well, some people are pretty open-minded and receptive to different ends of the spectrum. True, some are more judgmental than others, but I find that some of my friends are actually interested in learning more about my culture instead of being so quick to point out stereotypical generalizations when they see that I'm Chinese. I really like hanging out with these types of people, and I like learning about their own cultures as well. Well, when I was younger, I had that type of mindset too. I went to school and the campus community was filled with whites and Filipinos, mostly. I hardly knew any Chinese people then. It's the type of environment you're brought up in that influences the way you think. At some point, I wanted to be Filipino too because lots of my friends were Filipino. Haha, but now that I'm older, I've learned to embrace my heritage as Chinese, and I'm trying to connect with as much of my own cultural roots as I can. Maybe I will go spend a summer in Hong Kong or study abroad there at some time in the future because I've been in the U.S. for far too long, lol. And yes, I LOVE using chopsticks too (although I hold them the wrong way most of the time...got used to it..hahaha)! Yup, the older Chinese generations are pretty much aware of the fact that their overseas-born descendants will grow up differently than they have back in their home country. Sometimes, it poses as a difficulty though - like an obstacle - since there might be a language barrier between the 2nd generation and the elders, and it seems to be one of the most common problems nowadays. But my parents have generally accepted the fact that I am ABC and that differences will inevitably exist without a doubt, and in a way, after living for 35+ years in the U.S., they also have adapted somewhat to the Western lifestyle to some extent, though they still hold steadfast to their Chinese ways like their own parents before them.
I am a chinese canadian. I came to vancouver from HK when I was quite young but I go back to HK for vacation once in awhile.
I'm born and live in New Zealand.. NZBC? *laughs* I've been to China and Hong Kong quite a couple of times, 1997 was the first year i went to both places. I actually REALLY hated Hong Kong when i went there in 1997, but when i went back there in other years i have grown to like it. When i meet new people, they always ask if i was born in China which i respond with a "no", and they look all shocked. Some people even think i'm an exchange student who doesn't know a word of English, which makes me laugh since i've been in NZ for 16 years now. And i'm fluent in both Cantonese and English.
im a BBC.....and when i go to HK....often get called 'gwai mui jai' because of the western cultures....and in uk they say were chinese so us BBC's are often in the middle -lol and at school yes i get them questions as well.....do you eat rice like EVERYDAY.....well at school kids would ask you that and things like what do YOU eat.....blah blah...but after all that stuff goes...it all okay...guess its more of a curiosity nature.... as for the middle name business guess i was lucky when i was enrolled into school and stuff my rents didnt put my chinese name down.... so never had the fuss of my friends asking me about it....but the ones that did ask...i'd mebe tell them depending on how im feeling muhahaha
and I'm "BBC newsworld" HAHA. just kidding, I went to canada when I was 2. my name got butchered in every way possible, but it was nothing compared to my sister. when she was 7, she pretty much gave up and gave herself a nickname. my parents and I tried "canadianizing" together, but that failed horribly at an early age, so we just stuck to being chinese and sticking to being chinese. oh, and my dad taught us the art of making fun of CBCs. not exactly a great habit, but it really isn't something to be proud of when someone calls you a "jok sing". or a banana. so a lot of my childhood was spent to prevent people from calling me a jok sing or banana. as for the racial discrimination, I got a lot of it from the brown kids (i.e. the "other" asians), but there were other asian kids in my classes, so we just learned to be immune to it.
I'm ABC (Australian Born Chinese) and I don't really find that I have the problems that some of you have...Maybe it's because that here in Australia there are heaps of people from places all over the world so there really isn't a real definition for 'Australian'. No one can really define what Australian is... My parents come from HK and I was born here...and I'm still living here...Most of my friends are asian but because many of us have been here so long...we don't really understand the Chinese Culture or way of life anymore...A few of us can speak Chinese...I can speak Cantonese but that is only because I'm made to speak it at home...I also understand a lot more about the Chinese ways than some of my friends because at home...I live with my Grandma, Mum, Dad and Aunt so they teach my sisters and me a lot about it. When I go back to HK, I don't really have any friends. They're all relatives and they say that I am a bit westernized too...though I can speak Cantonese and still talk to all of them... I eat rice at lunch sometimes and...some of my friends do too...so they understand...I have a few non-asian friends but they've been with me for around 6 years so they understand...
Every culture has their own value. Don't degrade or debase yourself. I was also raised in The USA...Whenever you go out with the white, because of their curiosity as to how one culture is different from the other, they will keep bugging you or questioning with a barrage of questions especially when you were in elementary school. But when you grow up, everything turns out to be different. I am still proud of my own culture and value and nobody can destroy it.
