Anna Leonard
3/28/11
Dr. Chen
Major 4 Essay 2nd Draft
A Different Perspective
I entered Alma College Library a little before 9 PM Thursday night. I saw my
friend Hannah, studying for our Biology test, and asked where LinLin was. She told me
that she was behind the circulation desk. Being extremely timid, I debated whether I
should interview her or go back to my dorm and do it another time. I finally got up the
nerve to talk to her, and she told me she would be ready in two minutes. I saw that she
was wearing a Whitmore Lake Cross Country red, tie-dyed shirt our coach had given us
in high school. I stared at the books on the bookshelf across from the circulation desk,
wondering if the interview would be a painful experience. She was finally ready and we
sat on the tan, cushioned chairs near the entrance to the library. She asked me how many
questions there were and when I counted out nine. Meanwhile, I was dreading having to
ask her more questions. The surprising thing was that once LinLin opened up and started
talking about her experiences, and it was hard for me to keep up with her talking speed.
LinLin is a perfect example of why stereotyping is wrong in this country. She
considers herself half-Chinese, and half-American. She holds on to the traditional values
that she has grown up with, but she also wants to be successful in America, and she
adopts some American values too. In China, success is thought to be associated with
carrying on the family name, and having respectful wives and children. Family is what is
most important to LinLin. This is understandable due to the importance of family in other
cultures around the world. Here in the US, it is typical for sons and daughters to graduate
from high school, go to college and live in the residence hall, and then move into an
apartment far away from their parents. For LinLin and other Chinese people, family is
tight-knit, and they generally live close together.
The family unity that LinLin experienced is fast declining, as China becomes
more and more westernized. As families are moving away to find work, the marriage
partners are not concerned with fidelity, and more and more people are living together. In
fact, in 2001, a law was passed banning bigamy and polygamy.
Her unique experiences of having lived in the United States and China, she
believes have given her the best of both worlds. I believe that it has made her more
accepting of different cultures. Now that she has seen two cultures, she is taking the best
of both cultures, and adopting them into her worldview.
Education is seen as more important to men in Chinese culture, mainly because
they earn the bread and butter for the family. She believes that education is important to
everyone regardless of race or gender. Education is an opportunity for everyone to make
the right choice about what they want to do in their future career. After Alma, she plans
to work, and maybe after that go to graduate school. China is fast growing to be an
industrial leader and in today’s world, it is very helpful to know Chinese for future job
prospects.
LinLin sees her Grandmother as a positive influence on her life, because of her
stoicness in the face of adversity. When her Grandma came with her to the U.S. when she
was a little girl, she never complained even in adjusting to the new life, and the problems
she faced. LinLin spent 3-4 years in New York before she came to Michigan. Luckily,
her adjustment to her new life was made easier by the fact that Chinatown in the U.S
eased the transition to a life with less Chinese people. Unfortunately, when she made it to
her high school in Michigan, she was the only Chinese person in attendance.
Life was not easy when she came to the U.S., even though she was a near a
community of Chinese people. When she was a freshman or sophomore in a big high
school in New York, she bumped into a bigger Hispanic girl and the girl said, “Say
excuse me, Chinese,” “Say excuse me, Chinese.” Even though she was at a more diverse
school, there was more discrimination than at her high school in Michigan. Most things
about her are different- the way she looks, thinks, talks- the best way to deal with any
awkwardness is to smile and be polite. When you smile and are polite, you may even
change the other’s mind about foreigners.
LinLin loves passion and thinks that it ties her to her American friends. For her
Alternative Break she went to El Paso, Texas, to the border between the United States
and Mexico. Something else that ties her to her American friends, besides passion, is the
similar education they have received at Alma College.
We were reaching the end of our interview when I asked her what she wanted me
to share with you at our cultural party. To her food is very important in society, and of
course it feeds people. This gave me a final opportunity to ask her about what she was
passionate about, food.
Chinese cooking is primarily different from American cooking, because they
don’t use measuring cups or eat a lot of fried food. As in American families, Chinese
families don’t always eat breakfast together. Breakfast consists of watery rice, and
vegetables. Lunch is eaten with the family gathered together. This is similar to Latino
children coming home for lunch before returning to school in the afternoon. Dinner is
also eaten with the family together.
Stereotypically, we think of Chinese children as being “nerds.” This is partly true
to the fact of the Chinese educational system being very challenging. Chinese children go
to school Monday through Friday, a half-day on Saturday, with a full day of school on
Sunday. Elementary school and high school are difficult, with college being easy.
The Chinese educational system produces students with excellent test scores, but
they are not as innovated as the real world needs them to be. They end up being shy when
it comes to asking questions, out of respect for their elders. Chinese students are flocking
to US colleges and universities because they want to move beyond just knowing the facts.
The Chinese people hold onto their cultural values dearly, such as male domination and
respect for elders, but they do not want to let that interfere with their personal success.
I was at last finished asking her questions. I came into the interview being
skeptical of my reception, but I left the interview understanding a little more about
LinLin, and understanding a little more about Chinese culture. As I left LinLin reminded
me that I could e-mail her if I had more questions, and I felt confident that if I did I
would be at ease learning more about a culture that is now so fascinating to me.
Word Cited Page
"Family life in modern China." N.p., Aug. 2006. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/aug2006/china_family.html>.
Chen, LinLin. Personal Interview. 24 March 2011.
Chu, Kathy. “Critics say top-rated Chinese educational system has a flaw.” USA
Today. 31 Jan 2011. 28 March 2011.
<http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2011-02-01-
asia_education01_ST_N.htm>
