So perhaps it's time to start my own list on Stuff Canadian-Born Chinese (CBC) Like.
- Petite-sized clothing. Yes, I know there are tall Chinese people in Canada, but most CBCs I've met don't have any overlap in their ancestry with Yao Ming's. I had to shorten every pair of pants I bought until I resigned myself to ordering petite-sized clothing from the US. Occasionally, I can find some nice items in Canada too.
- Bilingualism. In Ontario, everyone tells me I speak French very well. In Quebec, they don't think I speak French at all. Nevertheless, my ability to communicate in French makes up for my deficiencies in Chinese. Actually, I can communicate reasonably well in Taishanese, as long as the conversation is limited to low-brow topics like, "What's for supper tonight?" On the other hand, I've also been told that I write my name (about the only characters I know how to write) like a six-year-old. In French, I can write at least as well as a preteen.
- A white spouse. This makes me almost white, or at the very least, it gives me a direct connection to Starbucks, red wine, yoga and the other Stuff White People Like.
- Amy Tan. Some of my CBC friends don't think much of Amy Tan, but when I read Joy Luck Club, all I could think was, "I've had that conversation with my Mom!"
- Good Chinese restaurants with English menus. Love to take my friends and co-workers to these places. I get to show off my knowledge of "authentic" Chinese food (let's have that congee with preserved egg and we'll pass on the chicken balls, please) without having to admit that I can't read a word of the Chinese menu.
6 comments:
I am pretty sure there is a site for "Stuff chinese people like" Will see if I can find it. Oh...will I see you on Digi in Deep tomorrow.
I'm sorry but "preserved egg" looks positively revolting. Do people eat that sort of thing and actually manage to not die?
Yep, I signed up for Digi in Deep as well, Kirsten!
Mark, I am still alive and well after eating a lot of preserved egg. It's comfort food for me ... you know, like mac-and-cheese for those white folk.
Very good, Paulina! This is a promising list! I have to agree with everything on it, even if I can't speak Chinese. :-)
Should we add the Stratford Festival and figure skating? ;-)
Don said that you should remember to add white guys to your list. ;-)
Don said that you should remember to add white guys to your list. ;-)Oops; I just noticed that you did. Sorry, Todd. You got lost in the Starbucks and yoga.
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