| |
Saying good morning to your grandmother is easy, you’ve practised it a million times over
“jou sahn” …you say. She knows you’ve over-rehearsed it, it’s one of the only things she’s ever heard you say in Cantonese. You avoid eye contact, because you think by doing that you can avoid conversing with her. You understand everything she says, but when it comes to your turn, you just can’t seem to find the words you’re looking for. She offers you breakfast and when it’s over you break your unintentional silence with the only other thing you know how to say...
“do jeh a-ma”
Thanks grandma
It’s a dilemma. Different relationships, contexts, languages, and values. I am a product of the socialization of Western and Eastern worlds. Although I understand and acknowledge Asian cultural heritage, traditions and customs, it feels that without the language, these practices are acknowledged in vain. My efforts of communication through greetings and bowing of the head promotes feelings of deception. My actions and words feel fraudulent and as they are ‘learnt’, they have become mechanical in nature.
In contrast, living in a Western society clearly points out differences in regards to being Asian, some trivial and others significant and some individuals go to lengths to try and assimilate to Western society. Australians make assumptions and judgments that Asian-Australians should meet an ‘authentic cultural package’; hey are culturally shorthanded. This expectation also heightens feelings of cultural inadequacy. It emphasizes the fact that although I’ve been born and nurtured in Australia, I’m still different because of my Asian appearance. The term ‘Asian Australian’ expresses clearly the idea that we are not completely one or the other.
|
|
