Comments on: Being (un)Chinese

By: TIK

TIK — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:07:51 +0000

Being born in a Hakka family with parents who watch the Chinese serial and Chinese newspaper, I thought I was from a mixed speaking family. Only recently did I notice (intentionally as I have told my Chinese friends) that I speak mainly English with both my parents (This is hard to believe). Now that I am working in China, I am trying really hard to learn the difficult language. It does not help when the Chinese here will not speak English to you, knowing that one has the China roots.

By: Taikor

Taikor — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:00:26 +0000

I myself am not Chinese-educated. My mum tried her best to teach me Chinese since I was a boy and each time, whenever I remember a character, I always forgot it in less than a month. Everything goes back to square one.

It was until when have grown up, have started to work in the society that I suddenly feel strongly about my identity of being Chinese. I had shifted from extremely Japanese, American and British mentality to extreme Chineseness in me.

I studied through the Chinese history and even traced my ancestral root which my family have lost track.

I also committed myself to learn to read and write Chinese.

Today, I am glad to be able to link myself back to who I am. Proud to be Chinese. At the same time, I’m also heartened to be able to link the western and eastern thinking. I’m a fusion of both cultures; yet distinctly Chinese.

By: Jim Gilmore

Jim Gilmore — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:20:45 +0000

Hi Joanne, Being or not being Chinese is not what you are but more a matter of who you are ethnically. I know many blacks (read African-American for the politically correct) who have no concept or inkling of what it is like to be African. The country where you were born is who you are. PERIOD! The rest is just icing on the cake to try and make you stand apart. IF you are born in Singapore, then you are Singaporean regardless of whether your parents are Malay, Indonesian, Thai or whatever. Be happy that you made it through school and if you are fluent or at least conversant in another language or three, GOOD ON YOU!

By: debbie

debbie — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:15:59 +0000

Dear Joanne, I am Debbie. I didn\’t go down to watch Shaolin. Maybe next time. So I have a chance to explore myself and take photo of Shaolin monks. If I am not wrong art festival is over. Don\’t worry too much. I am not very good in Chinese. Just listen carefully what other people say. I am more comfortable speaking in English rather than speaking in mandarin.

I need your help with regard to flash splash page. In your own opinion, do you like or don’t like flash splash page. If possible, can you elaborate more why you like or don’t like flash splash page. If you are not too sure about flash splash page then it is ok. It is good to see you on tv.

Take Care Joane Jie Jie

Cheers: Debbie Wee

By: Stephan

Stephan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:03:12 +0000

Hi,

Liked the thoughts on this post

I think it is probably intuitive of us to typify aspects of a “foreign culture” as reference points, in order to facilitate some kind of cross-cultural exchange (just as Asians like ourselves tend to create normative assumptions of what appears “exotic” to us).

Through such exchanges we are conditiioned to find the bases for explanation and defence (sometimes passionately) of our so-called cultural identities. All this in the hope of transcending convenient stereotypes.

I don’t suppose there’s an element of attachment to the ancestral homeland among young Chinese anymore, too. What matters, though, is (renewed?) emphasis on the “ties that bind”.

Have a good day.

By: Bir

Bir — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:05:24 +0000

Hi Joanne,
Thanks for making my day ! I hope you continue the prime time morning thing.
Welll, you are right, i was never good at my mother tongue either and somehow scraped through till the end of O levels.
well, I think its not about “roots” I think many people do not realize that in global world it doesnt matter what roots you have. Every person is defined by his own culture, and his own way of looking at things. I work with 12 nationalities everyday, stayed in 3 countries in the last 4 years, it doesnt matter what my roots are and what my roots are not. My aim is that I am a human being and I have certain principals in life that I got to follow.

I dont know where i am going with it, but anyway hope to see you tomo on prime time morning,

Cheers,
Bir