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| In-class Thinking1. I was asked to put down 4 words that I think describe best my ethnicity. It never crossed my mind that I am bilingual...
Possible explanation:
a. I have not included language as part of my identity. I'm just using languages for communication's sake. Whatever language expresses best, I'd use it. It's just not a part of my identity. I'm an Asian who naturally speaks Chinese and happens to know English...
b. I have been so eager to be accepted by the new English-speaking group that I am willing to temporarily give up the other language in order to fit in.
The funny thing is, the four words I wrote were Chinese, Christian, Suzhou (even this came out..), middle-class. And it never crossed my mind that I am bilingual..
Or probably I didn't know bilingual was a choice.
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2. We were sharing experiences of cross-cultural conflict and communication. I realized my conflicted experiences have not been those with people from another culture, but in Taiwan. In a sense Taiwan is multi-(sub)cultural and multi-dialectal. I grew up in Taiwan but I understand more the Shanghai dialect (whatever that name is) than Taiwanese. I admit I was prejudiced against it to an extent that I didn't want to learn it. But really the special history of Taiwan (immigrant society and the significant 1949 Nationalist retreat) has, I would call it, enriched the culture of Taiwan. Now that has been part of my so-called identity. The somewhat hard-to-explain historical culture is part of me. Therefore I still tell people that I come from Taiwan (geographically). But culturally I am Chinese, and proud of our heritage.
I have lots of stories to tell concerning intercultural communication... though I've been in Taiwan almost all my life. Gee, I've never thought of that... | | |
| "Culture" ShockI just failed to be shocked by the American culture, especially coming my way to Wheaton en route LA, where I say if Chinese-ness is 1 and American-ness is 10, LA would land on 3. The Chinese/Asian bonding is so strong that I get shocked by a culture I supposedly know better. I think I have a new explanation for "familiarity breeds contempt" here.
On the first day of International Students Orientation, a Korean lady, nervous, Korean lady, was anxious to find Korean connection. I think she basically asked every Asian-look person if he/she was Korean. I disappointed her with a no, but later on she was happy with many people who she could speak Korean with, including two Chinese students who graduated from a college in Northeast China (which is close to Korea). Last night all the Asians had a culture dinner together. I got to speak some Chinese with my new friends. The same, nervous, Korean lady said so many times " I cannot understand them, they are all speaking Chinese..." and someone suggested that we use English for the rest of our conversation. I was like.. dude! You didn't mind how much Korean you speak that others don't understand! I am totally OK with English, I have to tell you. But I also have to admit I am lucky to be comfortable in both Chinese and English. I wouldn't say I have a split mother tongue, which is not the case. But probably I am not missing home enough to find Chinese (and rice) pleasingly familiar..
Question: do Californians tend to think the northern places are all close to the north pole? While I was in Milwaukee the auntie in LA called me and first of all asked me "is it cold over there?" I tell you the truth, it is anything but cold. Perhaps it is cooler than LA, but it's not cold enough to need a heavy coat, OK? So take your time in shipping my winter clothes over (which I left in her house because I was carrying too much luggage.) Thanks, though. :)
This is more a family-oriented shock. I once had a friend getting angry at me because I didn't answer her phone. "I was calling you like crazy!" I picked up the phone and read: 2 missed calls. I thought I would see 8 or 9 or 10, because that's what my dad does when he "calls me like crazy." My dad likes using the phone. He's been calling me every day and insists on my having a cell phone so that he could call me wherever I am. OK, the house phone is really annoying, to be honest. But the whole purpose of carrying a cell phone is because most of the times he wants to call. I feel like I've been spending so much time on the phone, at least a lot more than my roommate. At this point of time, I am not desirous at all of.. an iPhone, maybe?
That's sort of negative for a first post in a century? :) But I am at Wheaton College now, just done with the International Student Orientation. My aunt and cousin are visiting tomorrow from Detroit. Hope everything goes well. I still haven't found my sense of direction yet. We'll see when tomorrow comes. | | |
| It's not a tabooTalking about dear (and dead...) Peter is not a taboo. But how he is mentioned or remembered still makes a difference for the living. I've been trying to make the best in it, though so often coming with buckets of tears shed.
I have secretly retired a few songs for my friend since his funeral. It's not that I am not singing them anymore, but I'd still love to save the songs for the person so young and so special. In fact there are so many moments, be it a line of a song or any story about a young and sudden departure, that I would think of Peter. But the more he lingers in my heart, the more I remember about how he lived: how he, though not extremely bright, has become an encouragement to the people around him; how we could always laugh because his laughter cracked us up (and the joke was not funny at all); surrendered his life to God at the Taiwanese Urbana, served in the military force, impressed his colleagues and officers because of his closeness with the Lord; how he shared that he prayed for everyone he knew during his night watch, and two hours flew by so quickly...
His buddy led the songs this evening for our fellowship and said a prayer that made my heart wince. I felt in his prayer that he is still struggling in the shadow of death. It's not that you cannot mention Peter. Like I said, it's not a taboo. But I really hope the anger and despair for Peter's death will not overshadow God's love. I cannot deny the existence of the former. But I'm sure Peter wouldn't want to be remembered with a negative feeling. (Well, we did laugh over Peter's magnificent deeds over and over again. His case is just too unique.)
I still don't understand why God took him away so early, especially when the teenage fellowship is desperately in need of a male counselor XD. But... but, but, but, but... I still believe that all things work together for good to them that love God, both for Peter and for the ones still living and missing him. O I so want to believe.
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
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| A Time to UnderstandI was looking over a self-intro draft for a high school girl who is preparing for her college interview on Saturday. My own experience 4 years ago was rather different from hers. Speaking was only a little part of the whole entrance exam to the language and literature department. So basically I prepared no draft for the 3-5 minute interview. Later when people ask me for advice, I would first have to ask others for advice. ^^" But last night I realized I actually know what to do with the draft. I don't quite remember if I have heard what I said before, but I just knew the whole interview thing works like this. Perhaps the college experience has already taught me what college professors care about? Lucky if I do. But I guess it was just time to understand what I didn't know in high school. That's all. A dad (also a counselor of the teenage fellowship) once expressed his worry about his teenage daughter caring so much about her outward appearance, boys' opinion of her etc. All the "big sisters" at sight assured him "You'd really worry if she DOESN'T care about these things!" I don't think the dad was soothed at any rate. After all, though being a counselor, it's his first time to be the dad of a teenage daughter... So I smiled. I guess that's what my dad was like when I was a teenager.  We are all so sure that there will be a time for our lovely little sister to outgrow that complex, just like we know that there will be a time for the all-time first-place student to stop caring about grades. There will be a time to understand that life goes on as any other day even it's your birthday. There will be a time when the lyrics of one song will fit perfectly to your life. There will be a time to discover that the Bible is the most fascinating storybook. There will be a time (perfect time) to look back on your life and realize that all things really work together for good, every bit and every tear. You will know by then that this is not just a verse to memorize. It is so true and lively that your every breath is working on that principle. There will be a time... You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold | | |
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But it really is a city with moments of beauty. Like today.
