The Unforgetting By Lan Samantha Chang Summary

As displayed in these stories, there is not always a mutual agreement within the family about several situations. Even I have faced conflict within my family, while I was growing up a time or two. Whether the issue involved something that you felt wasn’t fair or it was simply because you were told to do something in which you did not want to abide; the fact remains in every culture, family, life, or relationship, there will come a time where a conflict will arise.

Four Chinese mothers have migrated to America. Each hope for their daughter’s success and pray that they will not experience the hardships faced in China. One mother, Suyuan, imparts her knowledge on her daughter through stories. The American culture influences her daughter, Jing Mei, to such a degree that it is hard for Jing Mei to understand her mother's culture and life lessons. Yet it is not until Jing Mei realizes that the key to understanding who her

Believe it or not, but American and Chinese culture do have something’s in common. They see eye-to-eye on some aspects. Like providing for their children “Parents work together for the well-being of their children” [Example from Article]. It is true that parents do the best they can to work towards a better financial life for their kids. That’s why many Chinese parents come over to the states, so that they can provide a better life, and a better education. They would also go to great lengths for their children no matter what the cause “Parents will risk their life for their children” [Example from Article]. Any parent would risk their life for their children no matter what ethnicity, or cultural aspect! There is no bond like a parent and their child.

I have always loved to write, and it became even more evident when I entered elementary school. I quickly befriended a girl named Beth, who lived just down the road from me. One afternoon that I remember in particular was in the middle of the summer. She and I were set to write a book. We had read countless storybooks on our own, and we could not see why we could not write one too. We sat down with a notebook and two pencils, and we were set to go.

Have you ever gotten into a quarrel with your parents? Have you ever fought relentlessly until you get your own way? Many times when children get into fights with their parents, they do not have the same views as the other person. They both angrily proclaim what they believe is correct, and why the other’s point is not valid. Parents and children typically argue back and forth with each other, and in the worst cases, the tension lingers for days. The narrator’s views in both Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez and Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes differ from the parent’s perspective and the child’s perspective. In many cases that I have encountered, I get mad at my parents for saying something that I do not agree with and that is irrelevant. Although

My history as a writer began ever since I was in school. I have always loved writing. I also love to read. I find it easy to express how I feel on paper. Language arts has always been one of my favorite classes in school.

In the story “Two Kinds”, author Amy Tan, who is a Chinese-American, describes the conflicts in the relationship of a mother and daughter living in California. The protagonist in this story Jing-mei Woo’s mother is born and raised in China, and immigrates to the United States to escape from the Chinese Civil War. For many years she maintained complete Chinese traditional values, and has been abided by it deliberately. This kind of traditional Chinese culture has also affected her daughter profoundly. However, Jing-mei is born and raised in the United States. Despite she has a Chinese mother; she is unfamiliar and uncomfortable with Chinese

     What culture they had was to be forgotten – a difficult and practically impossible feat. The Chinese-Americans faced a wall of cultural difference that could only be scaled with the support of their parents and local community. The book review of Bone by Nhi Le stated clearly how “ … the first generations’ struggle to survive and the second generations’ efforts to thrive … ” made the transition into American culture possible. Overcoming barriers such as language, education, work ethic, and sex roles was just a beginning to the problems that all Asian – Americans faced.

Trinh Lam, my mother, started with Chinese origins. Generations ago, her ancestors emigrated from China to Vietnam, but the Chinese lineage does not end there. Over in Vietnam, the Chinese lineage continued with descendants (my mom’s, specifically) being full Chinese. My mother made the analogy that it would be similar to how my children, though born American, would have Vietnamese (and Chinese) background. She recalls her father investing time in her childhood trying to teach her Traditional Chinese, able to remember a few characters and fragmented characters here and there. Beyond her ancestors and language skills, though, not much personal connection to her Chinese background is present.

My older brother and I have been living with each other since we came to Oregon. In our childhood, both my mother and father used to work outside, so we were alone for the most of the day. No surprise, it was not a day that we didn’t fight with each other. As being kid, it was inevitable and natural for two brothers to fight and argue with each other. However, now that we are grown up, still we argue with each other quite often.

I’m an American born Chinese woman who loves an adventure. Exploring new places and learning about my heritage is the reason why I want to go to China, since I’ve never traveled there. Being the first generation in my family born in the United States, it seems like everyone in my family went to China except me. I’ve been exposed to the Chinese culture when I lived in Brooklyn, but lost it after my grandmother passed away. In Brooklyn, I lived in a predominantly Chinese neighborhood, but at age 5 I moved to New Jersey, to a town where there were no Chinese families. After years of reconnecting with Asian families in New Jersey, this sparked my interest in traveling to China.

Everyone remembers fighting with their parents at some point in their life, whether as a young child who wants a toy or as a teenager who isn’t allowed to go out. It’s normal to want to challenge authority when growing up, because it helps young people to make their own decisions and become individuals. Teenagers rely on few close friends and the last people expected to be confidants are their parents.

I was considered a “Chinese-American” since birth and my knowledge of my heritage is minuscule. I decided to pick Shanghai as my host country for this reason and by doing so I will be able to explore more of my parents’ origin or the culture I am raised by. By learning more about the culture I’m raised by, I’ll gain more insight as to why my parents practice certain traditions which I deemed as futile. For instance, I never knew why they prayed to an “omniscient being” where there’s no proof of existence and I question some of their actions sometimes. Despite that, there are certain constituents of these traditions which I enjoy and they’ll most likely be in Shanghai as well. Also, being able to experience this summer abroad program is significant

Chinese families are highly misunderstood and stereotyped in the United States. It is important to understand a different culture before one makes the assumptions produced by these stereotypes. In order to find a better understanding about Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans, one must do research on that countries heritage, traditions, and other customs before submerging one-self into a Chinese families home. I chose to experience and observe a Chinese family who was kind enough to let me be a guest in their home to share dinner.

Living in China presents different cultural perspective than it us in western cultural setting. This, I realised when I had my friends from college visiting me. And, it was a cultural shock for both my family as well as my friends.