Comments on: Lost in Transition: Fuzhou to the United States

By: GnuDoyng

GnuDoyng — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:07:14 +0000

Thank you for this interesting post.

I’m curious about your Chinese surname Lam. Is it 蓝? Obviously this is not a Foochow Romanized transcription.

By: S.J

S.J — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:29:54 +0000

The immigrant search for identity, family history and understanding probably led to some of the greatest literature and artwork in the history of the U.S(New York especially). In many occasions, immigrant families that come to the U.S have some of the most heartbreaking stories as they often have to run away from poverty or war.

To think of the courage of immigrants such as your parents should simply amaze every single reader. To come to a new country with an unknown language, alien culture while leaving behind every single familiar thing you have ever known, now that, simply put, is the definition of courage.
Thanks for sharing the story. Perhaps it will lead all of us to understand, communicate and appreciate the brave and diverse people that we meet everyday. What? we are allowed to dream, aren’t we? hehe.

By: Jonathan Chu

Jonathan Chu — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:37:59 +0000

The pictures shown are so nostalgic, I just asked my mom about pictures when she was a child and it looks exactly like yours!!

By: Nancy Huang

Nancy Huang — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:24:33 +0000

I remember going to visit my family in China when I was ten years old. What I saw when I arrived there is everything that I’ve just read. I saw these simple homes and the poor conditions in which they had to live in. I was just reminded of how I said to myself when I was ten years old that one day, I’d come back and rescue them all.

By: Ziying Li

Ziying Li — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:01:39 +0000

I am a native born Chinese, as you are able to tell. For most America-Born-Chinese do not know that much about their parents’ culture, even though their parents keep talking it again and again. They might even try to get rid of their own roots. “Hey, here is American, who needs to know about Chinese culture.” However, I could not know anypeople who is sucessful without knowing their “own” culture. It is a pity to ignore your own history.

By: Jonathan Batista

Jonathan Batista — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:44:21 +0000

I can relate to this also as some of the others have commented. My parents come from two distinct cultures that I was immersed in at a young age. I found it so amazing how I could relate to the emotions you were feeling as almost an outsider in a world so familiar to your parents. Great article.