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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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 Posted:
Sep 03, 2006 - 03:43 PM |
 
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| Quote: |
Germans like to reserve the best poolside seat and deckchairs by weapons of mass reservation, inb their case the dreaded towel. Spain and Greece are often invaded by towel bearing Germans.
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A bit Singaporeans reserving seats at the food court with packets of tissue paper. |
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That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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HH
Reacher
Joined: Oct 08, 2006
Posts: 208
Status: Offline
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Nov 12, 2006 - 09:30 PM |
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just got directed to this thread which was absolutely fascinating. I have only been in SHG for 3 months, so I don't have the experiences you folks have, and maybe because I am not in the teaching line and seldom come into contact professionally with non-english speaking chinese, have not experienced this. However, on the flip side, I have my fellow country men in Peoria asking me which part of China I was from, and I was the first ethnic chinese working in my company HQ in Denver, which drew quite a number of stares. I suppose China is no different. |
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currychook
Rocker
Joined: Dec 21, 2005
Posts: 602
Location: Hong Kou, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 13, 2006 - 01:06 PM |
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... |
Last edited by currychook on Dec 30, 2006 - 01:19 PM; edited 1 time in total |
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valkeries
Barker
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
Posts: 148
Status: Offline
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Nov 13, 2006 - 04:56 PM |
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i love my gf, she's simple
apparently singapore, taiwan , macao and HK and Japan are all chinese. we were watching the beauty contest btw |
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valkeries
Barker
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
Posts: 148
Status: Offline
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Nov 13, 2006 - 05:04 PM |
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it worx 4 me. i get jobs becox im white.
i dont want no black chinese teacher neither. thats life |
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valkeries
Barker
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
Posts: 148
Status: Offline
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Nov 13, 2006 - 05:06 PM |
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but i always get called the " american" though i am not. try telling them u r Irish and then listen ring-a-ding-ding as they say " inguo cha bu duo"
this from people that are the antithesis of colnialism...... |
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valkeries
Barker
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
Posts: 148
Status: Offline
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Nov 13, 2006 - 05:08 PM |
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try looking white and being from a country they never heard of, that's a trip |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18037
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Nov 14, 2006 - 02:21 PM |
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Claytor
Seeker
Joined: Nov 09, 2006
Posts: 64
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Nov 23, 2006 - 03:05 AM |
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| Post subject: Nationality and Ethnicity |
Sarahs,
You seem to have a very good sense of self, as well as, a generally level headed and good tempered approach to all of these venomous attacks you are receiving on this thread. I commend you for your approach to these hateful people. You don’t seem to have any self hate problems as several people have suggested. In fact it seems that the very people making these accusations have the problems, not you. Keep the faith sister, you sound like a righteous person to me.
I think the crux of the problem (which has been alluded to in other peoples’ posts) is the difference between nationality and ethnicity. In China they are generally one in the same. In America they are rarely the same. Your nationality is American. Yet, you are ethnically Chinese. I would also argue that your ethnicity is diluted. (as is the ethnicity of all Americans) Because you are culturally more American than Chinese, even your ethnicity is not fully Chinese, but also in large part American.
According to Wikipedia and ethnic group can be described as follows: “An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry (Smith, 1986). Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioral, linguistic, or religious practices. In this sense, an ethnic group is also a cultural community.”
I think this is where the disconnect can be found. As a second generation immigrant you obviously have shared ancestry with all Chinese people. However, your national identity is American. I assume, that largely your cultural, behavioral, and linguistic practices are more attune to American norms than Chinese. Thus, at least partially your ethnic identity is also American. This is an idea that is nearly impossible to convey in such a homogeneous/closed society as China. For the Chinese, ethnicity can not be separate from nationality, and the idea of ethnicity being fragmented is even less fathomable.
Ethnicity in America is more of a spectrum of identity and time than it is a matter of race. Where as, ethnicity in China is almost purely defined by race. Every successive generation moves farther towards the “totally American ethnicity” side of the spectrum until the only vestige of old world ethnicity left is some fraction of a race and possibly a surname. Every other part of that person’s ethnicity is American, because of their near total identification with American culture.
The idea that White, Black, Asian, or Hispanic Americans somehow hate their ancestry or race because they don’t identify with or hold on to their racial ethnicity is ridiculous. Contrary to popular belief (outside of America) the USA does have its own cultural and ethnic identity. It is only natural and practical for people to slowly integrate into and become a part of that cultural identity. My family has been in America since at least 1740. I consider myself completely American. I’m sure my racial ancestry is fragmented. My name does trace to a specific country to which I have no connection. I don’t hate what I assume to be the largest portion of my racial identity. I am simply way too far removed from it to identify with it or to have held on to any common cultural, behavioral, linguistic characteristics.
As for your students and other Chinese people who call you one of them, you should accept it as a compliment. That is what they mean when they say that. There is a pervasive sense of pride (which boarders on ethnocentrism/racism) among mainlanders about Chinese culture and the Chinese race. Since many mainlanders find it self-evident that being Chinese is the superlative way of being, they assume that you will appreciate the fact that they identify you as being one of them. Even if this compliment comes from a bigoted disposition, you should take it for its intended purpose which is to compliment you. |
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theAutumn45
Rocker
Joined: Oct 28, 2005
Posts: 796
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Nov 23, 2006 - 12:54 PM |
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Claytor:
A wonderful comment / analysis on the issue... I couldn't say it better. |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18037
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Nov 23, 2006 - 05:36 PM |
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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 23, 2006 - 06:56 PM |
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| Post subject: Re: Nationality and Ethnicity |
| Claytor wrote: |
| There is a pervasive sense of pride (which boarders on ethnocentrism/racism) among mainlanders about Chinese culture and the Chinese race. |
Combined with an sense of inferiorty about the Chinese nation, plus a simmering resentment towards ethnic Chinese who label themselves something other than Chinese.
Long-time posters here will remember Amega's reminder to me that however I try I will always be a Chinese. |
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