本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛I just finished watching a documentary on PBS: To Be An American: Personal Journey. It is
about the history of Chinese immigrants in USA in last 150 years. It is a history of misery,
humiliation, depression and discrimination. It is also a history of hard-working, perseverance
and pride. Though America was (and is) hostile to Chinese immigrants, Chinese, for more than a
century, have been striven to come to this land because they believe it is the promised
land for the prosperity and family well-being. The history is just like a river and we are
now in the downstream.
Almost 10 years ago, I lived in a house in central Chinatown. It is a house owned by
Chao (Zhao)'s Association which is located in McCaul and Beverly. One day, I, together with
another student studying at U. of Waterloo, were invited to a feast downstairs. When we
got down, we were surprised to see a room full of ladies without a single man. We were told
that they were all from a big family in China and the feast was to celebrate the marriage of
a girl in west coast(BC). They drunk a lots and laughed. I had a feeling that they pretended
to be happy. After the feast, one of old lady told me that they were all divorced. Here is
the background story.
In some rural area of Guangdong, it is ultimate goal for each man to go broad, US or Canada. It is
the responsibility of the women in house to sell something for their brothers to go abroad.
They have nothing
to see but their marriage. Through the arrangement, they married whoever like to have them.
It really does not matter if they are alcoholic, womanizer, drug addict or something less
radical. Their brother were in new land and their marriage wrecked, to no ones surprise.
The panorama of Chinese immigrates in N. America has little been unfolded. Most of stories will
be fading away because no one really pays the attention to them. Those immigrants, most
of them illiterate, are too shy or shamed to tell. Hopefully, They will not be gone with wind.
Compared with out forefathers and the country men and women we rarely know, we, an new generation
of Chinese immigrants, are in much better shape. We are well equipped with knowledge. With the
endurance and perseverance inherited from our forefathers, we should be able to prosper, in
many ways.
As Chinese, we see our children as the natural extension to our life on earth. Their success
is well regarded as ours. This is land for them and also for us in one more meaning.
For the friends in hardship, you are not alone. You have a position in the stream for Chinese
to go out, strive and succeed.
This article is off the subject of my intention. I will get down-to-my-bussines in next one.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
about the history of Chinese immigrants in USA in last 150 years. It is a history of misery,
humiliation, depression and discrimination. It is also a history of hard-working, perseverance
and pride. Though America was (and is) hostile to Chinese immigrants, Chinese, for more than a
century, have been striven to come to this land because they believe it is the promised
land for the prosperity and family well-being. The history is just like a river and we are
now in the downstream.
Almost 10 years ago, I lived in a house in central Chinatown. It is a house owned by
Chao (Zhao)'s Association which is located in McCaul and Beverly. One day, I, together with
another student studying at U. of Waterloo, were invited to a feast downstairs. When we
got down, we were surprised to see a room full of ladies without a single man. We were told
that they were all from a big family in China and the feast was to celebrate the marriage of
a girl in west coast(BC). They drunk a lots and laughed. I had a feeling that they pretended
to be happy. After the feast, one of old lady told me that they were all divorced. Here is
the background story.
In some rural area of Guangdong, it is ultimate goal for each man to go broad, US or Canada. It is
the responsibility of the women in house to sell something for their brothers to go abroad.
They have nothing
to see but their marriage. Through the arrangement, they married whoever like to have them.
It really does not matter if they are alcoholic, womanizer, drug addict or something less
radical. Their brother were in new land and their marriage wrecked, to no ones surprise.
The panorama of Chinese immigrates in N. America has little been unfolded. Most of stories will
be fading away because no one really pays the attention to them. Those immigrants, most
of them illiterate, are too shy or shamed to tell. Hopefully, They will not be gone with wind.
Compared with out forefathers and the country men and women we rarely know, we, an new generation
of Chinese immigrants, are in much better shape. We are well equipped with knowledge. With the
endurance and perseverance inherited from our forefathers, we should be able to prosper, in
many ways.
As Chinese, we see our children as the natural extension to our life on earth. Their success
is well regarded as ours. This is land for them and also for us in one more meaning.
For the friends in hardship, you are not alone. You have a position in the stream for Chinese
to go out, strive and succeed.
This article is off the subject of my intention. I will get down-to-my-bussines in next one.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net