Personal Narrative Self Identity
Throughout most of my childhood, I have been predominantly exposed to nothing
but the Chinese culture. When my parents first immigrated to the United States from
Canton, China, they rented a small apartment located right in the heart of Chinatown.
Chinatown was my home, the place where I met all my friends, and the place where I'd
thought I'd never leave. I spoke only Cantonese, both to my friends and to my parents.
Everyone I was around spoke fluent Cantonese, and I never spoke anything other than
Cantonese. I was pretty much secluded from the outside world because I never left
Chinatown, for I felt this was my home. However, my parents felt differently. They
wanted me to adapt the "American" culture. By being more "Americanized", they felt
that life would be better and that my sister and I would be more accepted. For that reason,
my family and I made the big move to the Sunset District ten years ago; a move my
parents hope would be a quick assimilation into the mainstream -- the "American"
culture- an assimilation that would ultimately change my values and my perceptions of
my cultural background.
When I moved from Chinatown to the Sunset District, I was completely amazed
at how different it was compared to where I grew up. There was considerably less
traffic and noise on the streets. I remember, I would have to push my way to get through
streets when I was in Chinatown. One major difference that I noticed was that all the
children were Caucasian. This was completely different for me because when living in
Chinatown, I only associated with predominantly Asian. Sunset definitely had more
Caucasians than Chinat...
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...spent the rest of lunch hour chatting with him. I found out that we have much in
common and that he was a wonderful person, both inside and outside. We found
our parents to be very similar in both their values and beliefs. We soon became
great friends and as our friendship became stronger, I felt I was rediscovering
myself again.
During my childhood, I focused so hard on changing my ways and being accepted
that for a time I felt that I also lost myself in the process. I felt as if I didn't know who I
was any more. By trying to adopt my friends' values, I abandoned my own. My behavior
changed completely. Once I let go of that superficial self, I no longer had to pretend to be
someone I was not and just be who I am. I no longer hated the fact that I was Chinese. I
accepted who I was. More importantly, I was happy with myself.
Shah begins with the mapping of Chinatown as an immigrant enclave by investigations of health authorities. These investigations provided descriptions of filthy and unsanitary living conditions. The results of the health investigations led to descriptions that would found the body of “knowledge” that Chinese immigrants and their unhygienic habits were the source of epidemic diseases. Chinese social behavior was pointed to as the cultural cause of medical menaces. Chinese immigrants were compared to farm animals and depicted as
During the time period of 1880 - 1885 approximately 17,000 Chinese immigrants immigrated to Canada in the hopes of better work, and improved living conditions. These immigrants were sadly disappointed as they were met throughout Canada with resentment and racist views. After the completion of the Canadian transcontinental railway the mainly Chinese population that had been employed as works began to disperse throughout Canada. This dispersion created “Chinatowns”, generally located within British Columbia and Vancouver. This time period of prejudice and hate becomes extremely significant as it shows the way that Canada overlo...
It's a small area called SOHO, similar to the street of New Orleans. I attended
Did everyone has taken a moment to imagine which neighborhood that you like to live? The Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago is one of the historic neighborhoods. According to Harry Kiang’s Chicago’s Chinatown, “In 1890, 25 percent of the city's 600 Chinese lived along Clark between Van Buren and Harrison Streets, in an area called the Loop’s Chinatown. After 1910 Chinese from the Loop moved to a new area near Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue, mainly for cheaper rent” (Encyclopedia of Chicago). The Chicago has two Chinatowns at the Southern part of the Chicago. Thus we can know that the old Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood is called the Loop’s Chinatown and located at Clark between Van Buren and Harrison Streets; the new Chicago’s Chinatown located
The first Chinese immigrants to arrive in America came in the early 1800s. Chinese sailors visited New York City in the 1830s (“The Chinese Experience”); others came as servants to Europeans (“Chinese Americans”). However, these immigrants were few in number, and usually didn’t even st...
“The early Chinese immigrants came to America in search of gold, and the rest of them who came to help United States to build railroad; afterward some of the Chinese immigrants they sent large amount money back to their family, some of Chinese immigrants who stayed in United States”( Manuel). That’s how Chinatown was built. In our lecture, I studied that many of Chinese immigrants who were coming in the 1840s to 1860s were to look for gold, just like people were coming to California from all over the world to look for gold, At that time, China was controlled by Qing dynasty, and people who were living Guangdong province were suffering poor disease, and war, so they did seek a place to make large amount money. Later on, they had a new mission, the Chinese immigrants built railroad for American. The Chinese immigrants found that the American people did not like them at all, even though they were working diligently. In our lecture, we see many photos of old Chinese immigrants, the photos of building the railroad, the photos of digging gold, and the photos that when they were treated unfairly. Chinese American should not forget those tough, being discrimination, and poor days; Chinese American should thank their predecessors. But today, everything is changed; Chinese
Asian American movement starts off by addressing the community living concerns that they live in. In California the movement starts in San Francisco’s China town where activist held meetings at Commodore Stockton Auditorium and Portsmouth Square (Wei 13). The meeting held on August 17 in 1968 was held all day long for Bay Area Chinese American students to give them information about Chinatown (Wei 13). The information that was given to the students were poor housing and health, unemployment, “negative” education (Wei 13). After the meeting there was a march down Chinatowns Main Street (Wei 13). Intercollegiate Chinese for Social Action (ICSA) created a youth center in Chinatown, where it gave a home to the Free University of Chinatown Kids.
When we are born into the world, it is far from our last birth. The birth of our identities begins as we grow. And while not right or wrong, it is how our minds take on an identity during our key developmental years.
see what I could do to make my life better. I would find out what things were
Chinatown first began in an area know as Sonoratown, where the notorious street Callae de los Negros (, named for the dark deeds committed there and the individuals who committed them,) was located. By 1870, it is estimated that about 200 Chinese laborers, servants, road-builders, and small shopkeepers shared the block long area located near the plaza in El Pueblo with gamblers, drifters, and outlaws. (Rasmussen: 4).
I wish I could be in heaven with the one person I know loves me
me in different light because I can be whatever you want. I belong to a society populated by chameleons: people who constantly change personalities to appease their company. I call this morphing ability the chameleon-complex, in which there are two degrees: the complete chameleon and the partial chameleon. Which are we? This is a personal awareness many do not care to reach. In fact, most would rather swallow glass. But, after we make this realization, we look for someone or something to blame (could it be the media, peer pressure, or even our parents?!).
Identity-“Ones personal qualities.”Identiy is something only he or she can fully define. My uncle says I am affectionate,cheerful, and calm. My grandmother sees me as slim, pretty and sweet. My dad described me as perky, cheerful and happy, my mom says beautiful, gentle, and self-conscious. These adjectives describe me accurately, yet they are only abstract versions of me. Adjectives cannot begin to describe me and I aknowlege these descriptions for what they are, a condensed translation from my outward self to the world. It is impossible for anyone to understand me completely because nobody has experienced the things I have. My mother has never cherished a raggedy doll named Katie and my father never spent hours upon hours making collages and scrap books for his future children. My uncle never hid in the back of a pick-up-truck and traveled four hours to New York and my grandmother has never walked hours in the rain looking for the Queen of England. My identity is something only I can define.
Hong Kong is six million hearts beating in rhythm. This pellet of land bustles with boiling commotion. Sirens scream like tea kettles. It is modern and prosperous, just like a little New York City of the Orient. The majority of people in Hong Kong hanker to live in loft houses of 3,000 square feet facing the fascinating skyline and immense harbor. Dreams of dreamhouses push the people deeper and deeper into their hard work, including my father. But beneath the city’s captivating surface, the noise of automobiles and prosperity overpowers thousands of sorrowful stories. Since poor people cannot afford the high rent prices, they have to jostle in bed-size apartments and partitioned rooms in the cocklofts of aged buildings. As I lived in Hong Kong, I should have been satisfied to have a 500 square foot big home. But, after my father left home, I found neither the eye-catching harbor view nor a vast house to be heavenly. Instead, a bed-size apartment on top of a dilapidated building was my firmament.
Who am I? Such a simple question: such a profoundly difficult one to answer. I could tell you that my name is Rob Jones, but that would only be my name. I could tell you that I would like to become a professional author and that I have strong linguistic skills and an artistic flair. But these are merely reflections of who I am: gifts I possess and talents I have perfected. I suppose I must start by telling you what I am.