Reflection Paper On Immersion Experience

It is clear that the narrator does not want to accept her family history. In the past, she was quick to reject even the thought of being Chinese, saying that she did not have ”any Chinese whatsoever below my skin.”(179) The reader could infer that she “feel(s) trapped between traditional Chinese culture and mainstream American society, and between (her) aspirations for individual freedom and (her) desire to satisfy familial and social obligations” (Wang). She feels this way because of the atmosphere and attitude of many Americans towards their heritage. There seems to be a tendency for Americans to abandon their heritage and only think of themselves as Americans. On the long train ride to China, she reflects

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

What this novel does not touch on is the harsh levels of discrimination that some Asian-American families faced during the 20th centuries, some people telling at them to go back to Vietnam, Korea, or wherever they came from, some refusing service, perhaps throwing them out for being different, similarly to how African-Americans were treated during that time, and similar to how some Muslims are being treated today. However, more insidious than moments of outright hostility, and maybe more powerful, are the constant weak reminders that you’re different, that you’re not one of them. The “sign at the Peking Express” (Ng 193), the “little boys on the playground, stretching their eyes to slits with their fingers” (Ng 193), you even “saw it when waitresses and policemen and bus drivers spoke slowly to you, in simple words, as if you might not understand” (Ng 193). All these tiny things, these little reminders that you’re not the same as everyone else around you, may have more impact on the people being discriminated against than blatant in-your-face

Sitting in a circle, most of those who were staring at me also looked like me – black hair, squinted eyes, and yellow skin. Not twenty minutes ago, I paced around the heart of a predominantly white college campus. Now, I was introducing myself to the members of Asian Students United (ASU). While I was never a part of ASU, I asked one of the organization’s executive board (eboard) members – Tien, who happened to a Facebook friend – if I could attend a couple of their meetings to conduct research on Asian American identity. He delightfully agreed. After all, from an outsider perspective, I would fit right in. At these meetings, I participated in many of their activities, which included making a quilt and participating in discussions. Yet, I was always observant and somewhat detached because this was all new to me, making me an observer-participant. This allowed me to observe a range of details; however, because I was so new, such details may have been unimportant to those whom I studied. On the other hand, my Vietnamese church was all too familiar. As a full participant in the church and a former participant in Youth for Christ (YFC), I was pressed to critically observe and dissect these interactions. While I still asked the group leader for a chance to observe YFC meetings, data from this second site may be more biased toward the way I have known people in this institution from prior years. As a tradeoff, though, being a participant-observer may have allowed me to note more

With such status, some of them feel like they actually belong to the American’s society. Similar to Rosalyn Koo, my family keeps our own cultural norms and traditions while still sharing common national values and goals. In the podcast, Rosalyn Koo mentioned that she sometimes wore a Chinese traditional dress to work. Growing up in an immigrant household, I have always been exposed to the Cambodian tradition, culture and norms. My family made sure that I know about my family roots and my identity. However, they still recognize the importance of acquiring the culture and norms of the mainstream American’s society. After listening to the podcast, I realized that social class differences also affect the immigrant process of integration. Koo was able to integrate and achieve socioeconomic success faster than others because she has higher levels of education and proficiency in English. In addition, immigration status also influences peoples’ ability to integrate into the host country. As legal immigrants, my grandmother and mother had access to many different services such as health services and education. Because of this, they were able to integrate into the U.S. mainstream much faster than my

Maxine Kingston's Making of More Americans like Amy Tan's Mother Tongue has been a controversial addition to Asian American literature. The writer has tried to answer the critical question of Chinese American identity and hence been criticized for adopting an orientalist framework to win approval of the west. Similarly Rendezvous by Frank Chin and Mother Tongue by Amy Tan also speak of a culture that neatly fits the description of the "Other" in the orientalist framework. It appears alien, remote and immensely degrading to women who were treated like non-human beings by Chinese chauvinistic society. However things changed for the generation of Chinese that grew up in the US or at least that is what authors wants us to believe.

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

The staffs made us feel very uncomfortable so we decided to leave the store. In addition, I have noticed that people tend to stayed within their race and culture. For example, some white people stay within their race, they form relationships within their own race, they live in neighborhoods where white people predominate, and they have their own life style, and consider other races lower than theirs. This makes me think about my own Mexican culture. I have heard some of my Central American friends say that Mexicans think they are better than they are. I do not say anything but I know many Mexicans who have said that we are better than other cultures. I have to say we are different in the way that we do integrate and have close friendships with people from other cultures. Unlike some white people, who say they have close relationships with other races, when in reality they do not. Anderson and Collins, stated, “We want readers to understand that race, class, and gender are linked experiences, no one of which is more important than the other; the three are interrelated and together configure the structure of U.S. society.” (Anderson and Collins, 2010)

My mother immigrated to Los Angeles from Taiwan when she was seventeen years old. Her parents emigrated from China to Taiwan for a better life before she was born. Even though I’m only half-Chinese…and a Chinese-American at that, Chinatown and Chinese culture are very much a part of my life. Eating Dim Sum- (a Cantonese specialty prepared in small portions carried over in small steamed baskets)— was a family tradition every Sunday. Chinese holidays were taken very seriously, and I always loved receiving hóngbāo, red envelopes filled with money during certain holidays. My mother made sure that she spoke Chinese to me as a baby,

The media chosen for this essay is based on a currently running television show that is being aired on the American Broadcast Company or what is more commonly know as ABC. The name of these television show is called Fresh Off the Boat, which is a work of comedy based fiction set between the years of 1995 and 1997 in which the family of a Taiwanese family comprised of first, second, and third generation immigrants that move from Chinatown in Washington, D.C. to Orlando, Florida of the main protagonists is a son named Eddie Huang in which he is basically the narrator of the story. The father of the Huang family moves to open a country and western themed restaurant and the majority of the family begin to have issues assimilating into the Florida community almost entirely devoid of other Asians. Although the cultural aspects of how the family is not fitting in plays a prominent role in the narrative as told by Eddie other

In a town that consists of a large Caucasian and Hispanic majority lies a Chinese, father-less family. I often question my mother “Why Southbridge?” out of all places in the United States; she chose Southbridge to settle in. Neither friends nor relatives live in this part of the United States. Those were the questions that I frequently bombarded my mother with. There was a feeling of isolation from the community, which made it uncomfortable when it came to making small talk with people or friends. This especially applied to me. “Hey do you speak Chinese?” "No." “Then what do you speak?” "I speak English." I said sarcastically. Was annual routine of questions I was asked when meeting new people in each grade. I was consider to be an oddball

In a town that consists of a large Caucasian and Hispanic majority lies a Chinese family owned business. I often question my parents “Why Southbridge?” out of all places in the United States; they chose Southbridge to settle in. Neither friends nor relatives live in this part of the United States. That is the central idea of questions that I frequently bombard my parents. There is a feeling of isolation from the community, which makes it uncomfortable when it comes to making small talk with people or friends. This especially applies to me.“Hey do you speak Chinese?” no, “Then what do you speak?” I speak English I said sarcastically. Was yearly routine of question I was asked when meeting new people. I was often the oddball growing up in middle school and known as that Chinese kid. It was grueling to join a clique. As result, I developed an introvert personality. Furthermore , worsening my ability to form meaningful friendships. It was only in high school, that I began to open up to people and eventually join a group. A group of extroverts,

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.

The cultural assignment allowed me to gain a new perspective on the differences of others. I have grown up in a household of dissimilar belief systems. My mom is a dedicated Christian while my dad is unassociated with any religious beliefs. Though, he grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness. There differing belief systems have been the cause of various conflicts within their relationship. I often wondered if people with contradicting beliefs could effectively and peacefully discuss their belief systems. This cultural experience showed me that a peaceful discussion is possible between individuals of dissimilar beliefs.

My second example took place in the Mexican restaurant, Los Taquitos, and the interaction I observed was between a young women and an older male. The attendant looked around 16-18 and was a Mexican American woman. The customer seemed to be in his late 60’s and was a Native American man who was in a wheelchair. They had a polite conversation and seemed to be previously acquainted.