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So here's just some stuff that's been on my mind. Just to start, my parents have been encouraging me to not get stressed out so easily. I've always been that quiet kid who sits in the corner and plays computer games, and I think. A LOT. I've been trying to relax my mind more. Sometimes I'll lay down on my bed and do like 10 minutes of deep breathing without trying to think about anything. Also try that sometimes before I go to sleep. Just trying to make life less stressful. So that's why I thought it'd be a good idea to take down all my thoughts somewhere.
What's your image of a typical Chinese?
![[image loading]](http://history.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/20th%20century%20painting%20of%20Hua%20Tuo%20at%20Academy%20of%20Traditional%20Chinese%20Medicine%20in%20Beijing_%282%29.jpg)
Do you think of this guy?
My parents are Chinese, immigrated from Hong Kong, and I was born in the US in the suburbs where pretty much only white people live. Therefore, the only interaction I've had with Asians is with my family. As such, throughout my twenty one years of life, I've formed this image of what Asians 'should' be, modeled after how I see my parents: they value hard work, family, stable lifestyle, generosity, honesty. They believe that one should be able to find happiness in non-material things - finding happiness in family and friends. Of course, that's not to say that getting a good, well-paying, stable job doesn't matter. One should make ends meet, be able to provide for oneself and one's loved ones, but not be completely attached to the material.
This is how my parents raised my brother and me, and how I see them live life.
What happens when I go to university? I meet a lot of Asians. Made friends with a lot of them, got to know them, learned about them. After 3 or 4 years of interacting with Asians, mostly Chinese, it began to hit me: these Asian friends of mine (I'm talking FOB Asians, not Americans with Asian ancestry) are nothing like what I thought Asians should be. So many of them seem shallow, fake, materialistic, selfish. I would think to myself "I'm more Chinese than these fobs." What the hell happened?
![[image loading]](http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/21067146/2/stock-photo-21067146-three-asian-girls-shopping.jpg)
This happened
What I realized was that my family is not a good representation of Chinese, let alone Asians.. Chinese (and Asians), just like white people, Hispanic people, black people, and so on, all have their share of different types of people. Perhaps the Chinese that I became acquainted with, and mainland Chinese in general, are more materialistic in general than others. After all, that's how their current society shaped them. But my image of them was still flawed.
Seems like a pretty obvious conclusion - that just because my family is a certain way doesn't mean all other Chinese are like that. But it's difficult to have thought otherwise while I was growing up. My only source of interaction with Asians was with my family; I only hung out with white Americans. I watched American TV and movies, listened to American music, lived in American society. And the contrast between this life, and home life that was shaped by family, was just too stark.
Anyways, I'm actually really glad that my family stands out, to me, as exceptional compared to the rest of the Chinese (and Americans as well, but that might be for another blog post).
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Just a thought but if they are born in China and going to Uni in the US it is probably costing there parents a lot of money, ergo they are probably very well off.
Could be why you perceive them as materialistic.
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Are you saying their cultural values change from hard-working, responsible, and respectful to superficial, lazy, and materialistic...
Or that all of a sudden everyone in China lost their facial hair and became really really hot?
I think in general, it's okay to want nice things and still work hard for them. While our generation as a whole does take a lot for granted, I think there may be a bit of a false dichotomy going on here between hard-working and superficial. I work my ass off for my education and at my jobs... but then I also like to spend a little on nice things for myself, my family, and my girlfriend when I have some extra cash. I'd consider myself relatively materialistic (I don't have a smartphone, but I bought myself a good laptop and I like to be well-dressed), but I'm also responsible and very respectful.
I'm not Asian, but I think it's our generation as a whole... being more selfish and greedy and feeling entitled, because so much is handed to us on a silver platter. It's just about how we were raised.
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On December 12 2012 22:22 Shottaz wrote:
Just a thought but if they are born in China and going to Uni in the US it is probably costing there parents a lot of money, ergo they are probably very well off.
Could be why you perceive them as materialistic.
Definitely related. I'm not saying "because their parents are well off, they are materialistic." It's moreso because the "new rich" in China tend to pamper and spoil their kids, making them materialistic because they care a lot about buying new things and other superficial things.
People can buy expensive things and earn lots of money (but not really value them that much), and at the same time value things like hard work, family/friend relationships, etc. The feeling I get from some of them is that they value materialism more than other things.
But this is sorta getting off topic (which is fine), since not only Asians are like this. I've met countless other non-Asians who are just as bad. The point of my blog was to illustrate the interesting thing that happens when one only interacts with a very few number of Chinese, and ends up generating a particular image of how Chinese should be, then realizing my flawed perspective.
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On December 12 2012 23:02 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:
Are you saying their cultural values change from hard-working, responsible, and respectful to superficial, lazy, and materialistic...
Or that all of a sudden everyone in China lost their facial hair and became really really hot?
I think in general, it's okay to want nice things and still work hard for them. While our generation as a whole does take a lot for granted, I think there may be a bit of a false dichotomy going on here between hard-working and superficial. I work my ass off for my education and at my jobs... but then I also like to spend a little on nice things for myself, my family, and my girlfriend when I have some extra cash. I'd consider myself relatively materialistic (I don't have a smartphone, but I bought myself a good laptop and I like to be well-dressed), but I'm also responsible and very respectful.
I'm not Asian, but I think it's our generation as a whole... being more selfish and greedy and feeling entitled, because so much is handed to us on a silver platter. It's just about how we were raised.
Hahaha, oh I wish it was the second option.
No, I meant that I had taken 2 Asians (my parents) and impressed how I see them onto how I see all other Asians (because I grew up in a mostly white society, so my only interaction with Asians are my family). Of course there are materialistic people in all generations, my parents' generation and before that as well (but perhaps more people are materialistic nowadays? not sure).
I do think it's good to want nice things and work hard for them. Being hard working is always a good trait to have. The problem occurs when one starts becoming too attached to those nice things and you forget other important aspects of life. Also, I think spending money on your family and your girlfriend is most definitely not considered materialistic, if you're doing it as a kind gesture to show that you care about them.
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Kind of like when you play as China infantry general on C&C Zero Hour then go back to playing regular C&C Generals as China.
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EPT
