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The problem of being a BANANA!

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lliu316

Reacher

Joined: Jan 04, 2005
Posts: 315
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 04:40 PM
Post subject: The problem of being a BANANA!

I just recently became aware of the other meaning of “Banana” when a friend of mine called me one. I didn’t take it offensively, especially when she immediately called herself an “egg”. Banana does pictorially illustrated people like me – yellow on the outside and white on the inside. My parents were Chinese, but I was born and raised in America, California to be more precise. I have been to China for four months now; I am slowly getting use to this culture that is so close but yet so far from that of mine.

It was brought to my attention couple of days ago in a discussion with my British friends in Beijing, that my experience of China is quite different from most of you. There are both advantages and disadvantages for being a banana. For example, I don’t get much of attentions on the street; my Chinese-looking skin is like a camouflage covering my fear of being lost in this new place; I usually can get a pretty good deal at Xiangyang Market without going through that heat of bargaining process. But on the other hand, people usually give me very weird looks when I tell them with my almost perfect Chinese (which I spoken with my parents at home), “sorry, I don’t know what you meant.” Or “I can’t write that in Chinese, how about pinyin?”

The disturbing part is that a lot of Chinese seem to have problem with bananas, I am not sure if it’s caused by jealousy or the fact that I have problem with using a squatting toilet. I found in many occasions that I don’t get treated as well as some of my white friends. Why is it? It can’t be because of money; I am an architect working for an American company, getting paid in USD. It can’t be my English; I have no accent at all. Maybe I don't have enough chest hair?

The wonder goes on....

Rio
Post Boaster

Joined: Dec 04, 2004
Posts: 4724

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 04:51 PM

Hey Im Chinese, raised in the Netherlands, I have the same issues as you, speak a couple of Chinese languages but cannot write them, at least, Im stuyding Chinese right now so its improving. Im totally Westernized but I also feel Chinese inside of me. Im an Ethnic Chinese from Malaysia btw.

I know what you mean by banana, you look Chinese but actually the way you act and think is not Chinese at all. And I think you should be happy because of that. You are not brainwaished by the Chinese government, you have your own ways of thinking, you just need to catch up a bit on Chinese culture, if you need this obviously.

Better be a banana than a lai wong bao (cant recall the Mandarine name for it) but its a white bread thingy with sticky yellow and sweet stuff inside, cuz I know many Dutch people who are wannabe Chinese.

lliu316

Reacher

Joined: Jan 04, 2005
Posts: 315
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 05:11 PM

oh believe me, I am learning Chinese.... with my pace I should be able to write my autobiography in chinese. ok maybe not that fast.

Quote:

You are not brainwaished by the Chinese government, you have your own ways of thinking, you just need to catch up a bit on Chinese culture,

I don't know about this whole brainwash thing, but I don't think i can ever completely understand the chinese culture. Maybe I will have a good grasp on Chinese way of doing things, but the mentality is whole different story. I appreciate the Chinese culture, but I don't think i want to think like a Chinese. Just like I appreciate Native American culture, doesn't me I am going to dress in animal skin, live in the wood and kill Buffalo for living.

Quote:

I know many Dutch people who are wannabe Chinese.

That's funny, I am sure for every Chinese wannabe, there are thousands Chinese who would love to take the trade. Seems like when all the chinese are trying to be anything but Chinese.

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yu888
Board Deity

Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18054
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 08:44 PM

I would not trade being ethnic Chinese with a Western background to be white or local. Many "bananas" do have an issue with their own identity, and most of us do at one point or another, but once one got over it, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Personally, I prefer blending when i want to but not standing out too much when I need to garner attention. (of course i am so damned wordy and talkative its kinda hard to hide)

Thus, I don't see it as a problem unless you yourself make it one. Cheers!

Nick-la
Wonder Wit

Joined: July 19, 2003
Posts: 3675
Location: Wasted on this site

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 09:28 PM

Chinese people think: You look Chinese you are Chinese. Simplistic.

They are also jealous of where you come from (if it's a developed country). But behind you're bak they will say how great China is and how that country is bad due to history/geography/race/favourite ice cream colour.

It is easy for them to say you're English 'has an accent' as it takes the focus off their "Herro".

Hmm I'm being a bit venting recently. It's been a bad day, too many of those 'China moments' today.

_________________
I'm surrounded by idiots.

CheekyMonkiez

Talker

Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Posts: 106

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 09:46 PM

Monkeys?!?

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Please do not make judgments of my character based on my scribblings above. Instead, I ask that you make judgments only after first taking a deep look into my two hearts.

Rio
Post Boaster

Joined: Dec 04, 2004
Posts: 4724

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 11:05 PM

lliu316 wrote:

Well thats a good thing, you have some of both cultures within you, I have that as well. I think the Chinese from China and some ethnic Chinese in Western countries are narrow-minded and not open to somehow modern ways of thinking, as if they are still living in pre-industrial society. But I also hate the sometimes arrogant Western culture, as if they/we are better than the rest of the world and we decide what will happen to others.

I have been raised according to the Chinese culture by my parents but also been raised and formed by the Western school and society system. So two different perspectives of two different cultures with many perspectives are within me and maybe thats the case for you as well.

Its funny that you say that many Chinese would love to trade with Western people. Thats exactly the example Im looking for as to how narrow-minded some Chinese can be. They think that by being non-Chinese or do everything that non-Chinese do, that will actually make them more non-Chinese. But the opposite is true I guess.

Some bananas have other problems as well. They feel like theyre a stranger in their western country. Theyre seen as Chinese and when theyre in China, they are seen as Western by Chinese. I personally dont have a problem with this but there are many ethnic Chinese people who dont know what they actually are. I wonder how you think about this and how you experience this.

CheekyMonkiez

Talker

Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Posts: 106

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 10, 2005 - 11:50 PM

To put it plainly: We are a generation lost in the divide. We are not locals and yet we are not foreigners. I imagine your story is not much different than many of ours.

On a side note, don't you feel sometimes that these days remind you of the old days with the "Western spheres of influence"? It's unfortunate because once again, the local Chinese are subjugated to play the role of subserviant host to the arrogant Westerners (myself included at times). In conclusion, everyone loses, yet somehow everybody also wins as a result of cultural exchange.

Finally, Rio, did you get my comment about your little dog. It's really scaring me man.

_________________
Please do not make judgments of my character based on my scribblings above. Instead, I ask that you make judgments only after first taking a deep look into my two hearts.

Rio
Post Boaster

Joined: Dec 04, 2004
Posts: 4724

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 12:14 AM

I think thats the wonderful thing of our industrialized society or the globalization, whatever you want to call it. There are thousands of cultures and norms and values out there and we can all learn from it in order to change our ways of thinking and see other perspectives. I see this as a new way of enlightenment, without a Kant to sponsor or support it, we as a society have to do it ourselves.

Yes I read it somewhere, Fluffy is not demonized, dont worry Smile

lovingu
FooJay
FooJay

Joined: Aug 07, 2004
Posts: 1721

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 08:46 AM

“Maybe I don't have enough chest hair?”, this sentence is funny.
“Thus, I don't see it as a problem unless you yourself make it one. Cheers!”, and this is true, and is the most important and effective way for you to get out of such embossing situation. If you act suspiciously, then others will become suspicious about you.
“They are also jealous of where you come from (if it's a developed country).”, and this is also true to some extent, though not true in every case.
If you are confused and want to ask why this why that about Chinese, why not go ask your patents? They understand and can explain to you in a better way.
Being a banana can avoid some negative thing of chinese culture, and therefore you can understand and appreciate traditional chinese culture in a better way, only if you understand chinese language like a native speaker.

lovingu
FooJay
FooJay

Joined: Aug 07, 2004
Posts: 1721

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 08:54 AM

but most banana have such similar problem, this is a Chinese thing, a language thing. If your parents don’t speak Chinese, or they don’t speak it with at home, then I guess you might not have such problem. The reason is you already have some understanding/knowledge (just some) about Chinese / Chinese culture from your family, but it is not enough for you to solve such problem, so maybe it is even worse than you don’t have any knowledge about Chinese culture.

lliu316

Reacher

Joined: Jan 04, 2005
Posts: 315
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 09:15 AM

This brought out the issue of assimilation or embracing the diversity. Do you guys think that this society should all think with the same exact mentality or do you see the value in diversity? I have to say if assimilation is the way for this “industrialized” society, as Rio named, United States and other “strong” western country is doing a great job. Look at South Korea, South Vietnam, Philippine, Pacific Islands and now the Middle Eastern countries… Is it really a good thing?

A lighter note on the whole “industrialized society”, I would rather to call the present time a commercialized society. Industrialization was the bridge of the societies during the Industrial Revolution around turn of last century, in the similar way, philosophies and ideas were the bridges during the Age of Reasoning. But today, we are connected through commerce. Things the western societies brought over to the third world countries are not heavy machineries, but ways of running businesses and other intangible goods. Internet, TV shows music… just to name a few.

Quote:

Some bananas have other problems as well. They feel like theyre a stranger in their western country.

Rio, I understand what you meant. Though I personally didn’t feel that strongly giving the fact that I grew up in San Francisco, a very diverse part of United States. It is not blaspheme to say that white people is almost the minority there. I feel like I was well accepted into the society. Hey, we got a foreigner and a movie star, Arnold, Schwarzenegger, as our governor. My point is… I think foreigner’s position in China will change as more and more foreigners coming and living here. This process may take a few decades or even longer, but it will happen.

_________________
Life is just one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Ned Flanders was dead.

CheekyMonkiez

Talker

Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Posts: 106

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 10:56 AM

Hey Liu, Rio we should get together sometime. PM me if you're up for it. Or go to the friday night dinner thing they're throwing for the younger guys. I'm thinking of going to that.

_________________
Please do not make judgments of my character based on my scribblings above. Instead, I ask that you make judgments only after first taking a deep look into my two hearts.

n00b
PopStar
PopStar

Joined: Apr 27, 2004
Posts: 1130
Location: Hua Guo Mountain

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 01:02 PM

yea, but first change your avatar dude, stealing hamletsbroad's avatar like that...

Drizzle

Veejay

Joined: Apr 02, 2003
Posts: 2036

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 01:07 PM

There used to be this guy that worked in our office. The girls used to call him a banana due to his family history etc. Every lunchtime he would be sat on his own, whilst all the girls would sit together cackleing away as women do. I used to feel really sorry for him, the divide was pretty obvious. Now a new girl has to contend with the fact she is not Shanghainese, so she is left on her own too at lunchtime as all the girls will speak the lingo and she doesn't understand it.

fukuman

Wonder Wit

Joined: Sep 18, 2003
Posts: 3699

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 04:18 PM

"Its funny that you say that many Chinese would love to trade with Western people. Thats exactly the example Im looking for as to how narrow-minded some Chinese can be. They think that by being non-Chinese or do everything that non-Chinese do, that will actually make them more non-Chinese. But the opposite is true I guess. ""

LF - where rrrr uuuuuuuuuuuuu?

lliu316

Reacher

Joined: Jan 04, 2005
Posts: 315
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 05:55 PM

Quote:

yea, but first change your avatar dude, stealing hamletsbroad's avatar like that...

How do i even change the avatar on this website? I tried and I tried, i just gave up, must be something i did wrong. I can't stand mine. First, I hate long hair, never had anything longer than one inch my whole life. Second, I hate all Japaness cartoon.... it kills me to have that THING representing me....

_________________
Life is just one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Ned Flanders was dead.

n00b
PopStar
PopStar

Joined: Apr 27, 2004
Posts: 1130
Location: Hua Guo Mountain

Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 06:32 PM

actually i was talking to that monkey.
anyway... on this exact same page, scroll up and you'll see profile above the banner.
click on profile, then you'll see the avatar control panel.