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一次偶然與女兒聊天她眞誠地對我説:媽媽20年前,您們爲了您們的前途來到了美國,也給了我們很好的生活與學習,但未來我很想去中國,那里有更多的機會與天地讓我們爲我們的未來去打造。
女兒2012年去中國江蘇沭陽敎英文一個月,回家後談了她的想法與對中國的認知,雖然她眼里的中國與我們看到了不同,但她們的人生與追求應該由她們自己選擇,做父母的我們除了鼓勵就是祝福了,女兒眼里的中國和感受與您分享
浦瑛 |
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Returning to China is like going to a different
planet. It has it's out of the world aspects like not really knowing
where I belong and just a completely different atmosphere where it's
uneasy to breathe. However, like many experiences where you become
familiar, memories and feelings are created and bond truly
unforgettable. My journeys to China have been more frequent lately as
I am growing older, I am now aware of the immense potential what china
has to offer and can see my future in the land of possibilities.
I am a banana. For people that have not heard of this
term, basically it means I am American born Chinese. Growing up in a
pretty non diverse Asian community and with an Asian household, the
two different cultures have made who I am today. Many say its best of
both words being "ABC", having a strict upbringing to strive for a
semi perfect education path and with the combination of a out of the
box imagination creates a well rounded individual. The biggest
sacrifice being Asian American is probably not really fitting in as a
child. As many children don't feel as they fit anywhere growing up,
it's particularly tricky for Asian American kids to find their place
because with moral standpoints with family teachings versus American
culture conflict. Going to Asia, twice in the span of two years, first
time for three months as a coming out of high school experience and
just recently a short eleven days. I realize I don't belong in any
country however, that doesn't matter at all. I love both places.
America is my true home, but china is my future.
My parents came to America twenty years ago for a
better life for not only them, but for the future of our family tree.
Coming over for my parents was nothing to easy for them as they left
their whole entire life to start a brand new one as they were merely
adults themselves. When they come back to their home town of the
rapidly expanding Shanghai, they themselves have a difficult time
processing of how in the world the culture and atmosphere has changed
since they were kids. As for my parents, home is in the States as they
created life and accustomed to the lifestyle in the States. Going back
to china is in a way scary for them as they were not present in the
last twenty plus years of when China is developing into a top tier
country. I am more aware of navigating and the lifestyle than my own
my mother that I have stayed in China for a longer time recently than
she has and have traveled to more places than she has. For me, I am
more likely to bring my future back to china as I feel like it’s a
challenge that I could be very proud of for my family as my parents
did twenty years ago.
Education is power. Without proper education, money is
wasted, but most importantly time. Time we don't get back, money
cannot buy time. Power is what runs the world nowadays. China can go
in two ways. At this rate of how rapidly the country is growing
economically without really taking time to really process what stress
it's putting on the young generation and the lower class, the country
will go down the garbage. We need balance. There's no such thing as a
perfect world, everything has a good and bad side in every situation.
We cannot depend on the upper class and the wealthy for everything,
more so we need to work together. In the end of the day, we are in
this together. Money is sparkly. It grabs attention, a sense of
awareness, eye catching. However, it only can get so far. Money makes
people stupid. That's a fact, it has its pros, but without a sense of
awareness and in the hands of the uneducated, that's where chaos is
spent and wasted. China could be the most powerful country in the
world as of now it's the most populated country in the world with so
many brilliant minds and hard working individuals that will do
anything to survive. Yet, nowadays with such an economic boom, more
and more unnecessary luxuries are being spent, buildings are being
built with no one to purchase or live in. Millions spent on empty
towers for what? For the people with money? Where are the people with
the money? It's the people with power in china that need to lead.
Last year I spent about three and a half months in
china. For a month I traveled to Shuyang, Jiangsu, where I taught
basic English to about thirteen to fourteen year olds. As for me, I
just graduated high school, naive to the world outside of my hometown,
I adventure off to the unknown. Being a student up to that point, I
had no idea what it takes to be a teacher. Not only was I in other
country at the point, I was in the opposite side of what I have been
for my whole life. Staying with my home stay family has reflected on
how blessed my life has been and how easy my life has been compared to
the students and family I experienced in Jiangsu. The school was an
utter culture shock mentally and physically as it was a developing
area itself.
The students at Yinghe School, Shuyang were brought
upon themselves. They saw an opportunity in itself as Americans were
coming to their hometown and were their few chances to be in the
presence of outsiders. At first, like most situations where the
unfamiliar break the form of conformity, the students were not as
diligent and willing to learn. Time and bonds were formed in the span
of us Americans being present. We saw how eager and willing the
children were after we spent just a couple of weeks with them.
If the upper class spent more time with their own
country it would seem it would balance out any distraught in the
system. We cannot forget about the middle to lower class as it makes
up for majority of the society. And by doing so education is the most
important goal in a human life.
Parents, teachers alike who educate the next
generation have power to change for the better. Every person on this
planet has potential. China needs leaders to help the middle and lower
class to rise to their full potential and with so many people, the
country could really make an impact on the world than it already is
doing.
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