Emotions from abroad
As emotionally taxing as this earthquake has been for many people here in China, an interview I conducted this morning really brought home to me just how much of an impact this disaster in Sichuan may be having on the overall Chinese psyche.
We managed to contact a Chinese Ph.D student at Harvard Medical School by the name of Li Gang who spearheaded a donation drive to help the Sichuan victims. Ostensibly the point of the interview was to discuss what overseas Chinese people were doing to help out the victims here in China. But what was striking about the interview was the emotion that flowed forward during our discussion. In relating how he had organized the Chinese community on campus to get together, I started to hear a slight change in his voice. And in a follow-up question about what the reaction of the Chinese community at Harvard was, Mr. Li essentially began sobbing as he told us about how he and his fellow overseas Chinese students all gathered around computers and viewed images of the devastation in Wenchuan County. Afterward it got me thinking about the mental stress that people can face when they're detached from their comfort zone.
I have a number of Chinese friends and colleagues here in China who have lived for an extended period of time overseas. Though virtually all of them say they enjoyed their experience overall, many of them will freely admit that they often times found it difficult. Many reasons are generally given, including the difference in the food, the struggles with the language, the financial strain of living in generally more expensive countries, etc. The list is generally quite extensive and varied from person to person. But most of my friends and colleagues, if pressed on the matter, will admit that one of the biggest things they struggled with was a detachment from Chinese people and the Chinese culture. It, in my estimation, seems to be an emotional attachment to the 'motherland' that a lot of non-Chinese can't completely get their heads around. I've always sort of lived by the theory that home is where you make it. That's why I now consider China home. Sure, this isn't my country and technically I'm a guest here. But still, I've made China my home. But for reasons that are likely numerous, most Chinese, in my estimation, don't really think like this. Even if they were born and raised in other countries, there seems to be some kind of homing-beacon like drive buried within the Chinese soul that makes them long for the Middle Kingdom. So when disaster strikes the 'motherland,' I suspect the drive to want to help their kinsmen is amplified among Chinese people. This is why I think my interviewee this morning had difficulty containing his emotions.
Living abroad can be tough on anyone at times. As an example, this past week my elderly mother slipped and fractured her hip. Upon hearing this news from my family members, I was somewhat torn as to what to do. Being on the other side of the planet and working where I do during this time here in China would make a return flight home to visit here in the hospital logistically difficult. Still, I was stricken by a sense of 'I need to do something,' even though I know there's nothing I can do physically for her. Thankfully, she's receiving high-quality medical care and, according to my family members who are there with her, responding very well to treatment. And not to remotely even try to compare the earthquake disaster here in China with my mother's accident, but, from an emotional standpoint, it did give me a better insight into how handcuffed overseas Chinese must feel right now. You're half a world away, and you want to help, but your options are limited. That said, though I'm not normally in the habit of soliciting comments from our readers (especially angry ones!), I would like to hear from overseas Chinese and ask them what's going on in their heads right now when it comes to the disaster in Sichuan.
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Wish your mom a fast recovery.
found this blog through http://chinaearthquake.wikidot.com/
to me, I was glued to news sites for several days and couldn't do anything else. often with tears to see the images, to read the stories, and to mourn together with fellow citizens. while technology has provided a stronger link between me and back home, I still hate the feeling that I can only make donations and help spread the word.
often times I wish I could go directly to Sichuan just like other volunteers in China, and I bet many overseas Chinese have same feelings too. not trying to be a hero, rather a reaction when a deep cord was struck.
on the other hand, you don't see a lot of Americans volunteer going to disaster area. it reminds me again the gap between two cultures, which might be one of the fundamental reasons why overseas Chinese often feel frustrated and constantly seek out to go "home".
Before returning to China a few weeks ago from the States, I'd say I had just about fully assimilated to Western culture, having grown up in Kansas and worked in New York. But reading your post today has made it clear to me the degree to which I enjoy being in Beijing, where I was born, surrounded by Chinese people and this culture (not to mention the food, which blows Xichan out of the water... I will never eat a sandwich or burrito the same way again). I don't think I'll get too deep into an explanation in this space... just want to say you've articulated something quite poignant.
Thank you for expressing my feelings and that of some of my friends. We want to go back to help volunteer but cannot due to either school or work. For us, it is very frustrating to watch on the sidelines without being able to do anything other than donate and increase awareness. I know some of us are going back over the summer to see if we can help during that time. But for now, thanks again for helping us express what we feel in our hearts.
I've been following the news day and night since the earthquake and burst into tears every time when I see the images and stories. I wish I can go back to help people.
I've send few emails with the heart wrenching stories and images to my Anglo colleagues around the office and ask if anyone would like to donate.
Most of them had no any response of my emails to show any sympathy. I am not here to criticizing people. I understand I am attached to China and they are not.
in Chinese culture,hometown,people of hometown and motherland are always be loved no matter where we go no matter our home town are mountain or plain, rich or poor. Chinese say "落叶归根：falling leaves come back to root” 。the root is our home town and mother land. I know western people don't normally say motherland. There is culture difference(not black and white).
Thanks the hosts of this site. Thank you for standing with your Chinese fellows at this difficult time.
Below is cut from a personal letter written by one of my good friends in Canada. I didn't have time to ask for her permit, but am sure she wouldn't mind sharing this with everyone here.
Please bear with my translation.
______________________
灾难来临的时候， 人是多么渺小。
山崩地裂的时候，无处藏身的时候，人的智慧， 财富，和权力全都苍白无力。
但是同时， 灾难来临的时候，人是多么幸运。无论是被埋在黑暗的废墟中，还是身负重伤茫然无助的时候，我们都满怀希望。
我们知道会有人来救我们，我们知道会有人惦念我们。
希望是无边黑暗里的一点星光，希望是痛苦难耐时的一剂止痛药。
四川，我为你心疼。
废墟下的家园，失去主人的小书包，还有那么多那么多痛失亲人的人们。
这是人类的灾难， 每一个活着的人， 都是受难者。
中国， 我为你感动。
上至国家最高领导， 下到普通民众， 全力以赴， 全心全意。
是的，这一刻，我相信亿万人和我一样感受到有一个强大的祖国在支撑着我们。
灾难让我们疼痛，也让我们坚强，更让我们懂得珍惜和感恩。
今天我们举国哀悼，明天，我们以举国之力重建家园。
我苦难深重的祖国呀， 给你最真挚的祝福。
When disasters arrive, how tiny human beings are.
When mountains and the earth break and there is nowhere to hide, man’s wisdom, fortune and power are all meaningless.
But at the same time, when disasters arrive, we are lucky. We still hold hope, either buried in the dark ruins or seriously injured.
We know someone is coming to save us; we know people are thinking about us.
Hope is a bit of starlight in the endless darkness; Hope is a pill of painkiller when pains are intolerable.
Sichuan, I feel for you.
Homes under the ruins; schoolbags without owners; and many who have lost their loved ones
This is a disaster of all human beings. Every individual alive is a victim.
China, I am touched by you.
Up to government leaders and down to common people are rallying with the best efforts with their hearts and souls.
Yes, I am confident that millions of people like me feel a strong motherland is supporting us.
Disasters bring us pains, but also make us strong, and enable us to better understand cherishing and appreciating.
Today, the whole nation mourns; tomorrow, we rebuild our homeland with the efforts of the whole nation.
My suffering motherland, send you the sincerest bless.
first of all i think we all feel the great sadness of this tragety. i think many of us also have a feeling of pride at how united chinese people are in their compassion for the victims. most of us are very satisfied with the government's response and if they will investigate the shoddy construction of school buildings, i don't think any of us will have any complaints.
to help you understand a little bit on the chinese psyche in relation to home, you have to understand the role of ancestor worship in chinese culture. we really don't have an organized religion, this is something close to it. you are suppose to maintain your family temple, your ancestors tombs. the family temple is like a huge genelogy center where you can trace your ancestors back hundreds of years. all your glories or shame can be reflected in this temple. also a pious son is suppose to maintain their ancestors tombs and when one dies, he is suppose to buried back home alone with his ancestors. also when one gets a education in china, there are countless literature, and poetry romancizing love of one's home and longing to return home. so as you can see there are many invincible links, some bordering on a religious devotion to the concept of home.
Interesting post.
I wonder if the earthquake triggered a similar response in Chinese communities who live permanently abroad (华侨), as opposed to simply PRC citizens abroad.
Is the common culture, language etc. enough to trigger an emotional response in people whose ancestors left the motherland 1, 2, or 3 generations ago?
Well, I am a 3rd generation Overseas Chinese (Hua Chiao) born in SE Asia but grew up and educated in Europe. I too have been following the torch relay and the earthquake and I and others like me felt alot of anger towards the torch demonstrations and also cried for the earthquake victims, coupled with a mix sense of powerlessness, pride, anger at local government corruption and hope that through all this China will change for the better according to her own needs.
Majority of Hua Chiaos do feel a stong bond and kinship with China and its peoples for we are of the same root, although our attitude towards the CCP is often perhaps alot more nuanced.
Many in China, particularly the younger generation forget or were never taught that it was with the money and political support of Hua Chiaos that Sun Yatsen founded the Chinese Republic, in helping the Nationalists to resist the Japanese invasion and that Hua Chiao were the first to invest in China in the 60s (Mao's Let a Hundred Flower Bloom Campaign where my grandfather also subsequently lost a fortune because of a later change in policy) and again were the first to invest in the 80's under Deng Xiaoping.
But ultimately how close to China each individual Overseas Chinese feels very much depends on how "Chinese" their own upbringing was.
revi:
I did actually have SE Asia in mind. I lived in Singapore for a while and remember how indifferent the Chinese there were to the whole 'rise of China' issue, despite being perhaps the most 'Chinese' of the Hua Qiao communities in SE Asia. In contrast, the Indonesia-Chinese I knew had much stronger feelings towards China. Maybe it has something to do with being a minority population, or the '97 riots but still.
And yes, you're very right to point out the history of the Hua Qiao - China relationship. It'll be interesting to see how this develops and how the PRC views the Chinese abroad.
(Sorry for the sweeping generalizations and if you're from Singapore -I guess you've proved me completely wrong!)