Overseas " Chinese Bananas"

Overseas " Chinese Bananas"
Aug 7, 2007 05:18
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: offline	Have you ever heard of this term " banana Chinese"? Initially, ' Banana' refers to American-born Chinese. Now, this concept is not confined to American-born Chinese. It refers to the overseas Chinese, usually the second or the thied generations of Chinese immigrants. The "bananas" are a special group. They have the yellow skin, but receive the western education. They are westernized and are different in ways of thinking from their parents. They cannot identify with their parents' Chinese ways of thinking. So, a generation gap is forged. Additonally, it is hard for these " bananas" to be assimilated by the mainstream society. Facing two distinctive cultures, how can they make a choice?

Aug 7, 2007 05:18

LEONARDO
Points:
Join Date: May 21, 2007
Status: offline

Have you ever heard of this term " banana Chinese"? Initially, ' Banana' refers to American-born Chinese. Now, this concept is not confined to American-born Chinese. It refers to the overseas Chinese, usually the second or the thied generations of Chinese immigrants.

The "bananas" are a special group. They have the yellow skin, but receive the western education. They are westernized and are different in ways of thinking from their parents. They cannot identify with their parents' Chinese ways of thinking. So, a generation gap is forged. Additonally, it is hard for these " bananas" to be assimilated by the mainstream society.

Facing two distinctive cultures, how can they make a choice?

Aug 7, 2007 05:35	#1
HEIDI Points: Join Date: May 9, 2006 Status: Offline	I 've met a Chinese girl born in American, it's a pity that she can't speak Chinese.

Aug 7, 2007 06:47	#2
GRYOKAN Points: 205 Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Status: Offline	That's why we are so anxious that you guys/gals over there don't learn to be like us - at least we don't idolise the west for nothing. We had no choice as our parents or grandparents had to go overseas for survival. I hope that you don't become a banana right within China and for other reasons - you have a choice, not us.

Aug 7, 2007 19:53	#3
FAERIEQUEENE Points: Join Date: Aug 8, 2006 Status: Offline	In fact China does not mean much to most of them, some of them take interest in Chinese culture.

Aug 7, 2007 22:46	#4
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: Offline	Well, is it possible for the second or the third generations of overseas Chinese to retain Chinese national identity despite of being immersed in a western culture?

Aug 8, 2007 00:46

GRYOKAN
Points: 205
Join Date: Oct 21, 2006
Status: Offline

Yes, it is possible but it takes a great deal of effort. Don't forget that the environment overseas is so different from that in China where everyone is basically Chinese.
Despite that, I am sure that there are many Mongolians, Manchurians & minority groups that have immersed in the Chinese culture that they cannot speak their own mother tongues too.
As overseas Chinese, some/most of us look forward to China's Chinese for inspiration, hope and to link with our roots. Unfortunately, what we see there is to our disappointment. We feel so sad.
As a matter of fact, if you look at the global picture more closely, this is very common. Those so-called Americans(which include CA)/Aussies/NZ/etc are not natives of their current countries as well. They were all basically immigrants, like our forefathers. They came to these countries and spoke a brand of English tainted with accent and evolved into something that is off from the normal English English. And most of them have lost their own identities of their countries of origin. Yet, you guys/gals seem to love and idolise them !! Why don't you idolise us overseas Chinese as well ? There is no need to pity us !!

Aug 8, 2007 07:19	#6
DODGER Points: Join Date: Jul 15, 2007 Status: Offline	Gryokan, it does not only happen only to people of Chinese origan but for all immigrants who move to different countries. We all what to have a conection to our roots. Dodger.

Aug 9, 2007 02:25	#7
YVONNE Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: Offline	America is said to be a melting pot. Is it true that every immigrant can be melted into the mainstream "White people culture." I have ever heard of " the Supremacy of the White" principle in US. Is it the case still existing in US? I have ever dreamt of living in US since I saw Hollywood movies in high school. Now, I am still confused about the real world of US.

Aug 9, 2007 02:34	#8
EVENING Points: Join Date: Dec 5, 2006 Status: Offline	Quote Facing two distinctive cultures, how can they make a choice? Why do they have to choose one? Each have its own advantages and disadvantages. They should learn both the advantages and make a balance between the two if they're clever enough!

Aug 9, 2007 20:17	#9
GRYOKAN Points: 205 Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Status: Offline	What a clever gal who talks cute !!

Aug 9, 2007 20:35

#10

CHYNAGYRL
Points:
Join Date: Aug 16, 2006
Status: Offline

When I was growing up in Canada, my parents made me learn Chinese. Wow. That was a painful experience. In Canada, about 10% of school kids have to already learn a second language (French) and then my parents made me learn Mandarin too. They taught me how to write the classical characters. I was studying Chinese while my friends were playing outside :-O On one hand I'm less of a banana than most here, but on the other hand I can try as I want to fit into a Western country, but never will completely because of my upbringing. Fortunately, about 42% of people from Toronto speak another language at home, (many are bilingual or trilingual) so they have the same story as mine.

Page 1 of 6 < Previous Next > Page:

Post a Reply to: Overseas " Chinese Bananas"