Collision between cultures: Effects on the descendents
Promise is a promise. I got a contact from K. PatPDX regarding to her son's accomplishment...
As a small gift, I would like to reflect something about this issue to her and her beloved son in particular!! :)
----------------------------------------------------------- Migrations of people from one country to another has happened all the time. Some times it happened like an exodus; there were many many people moving from one place to another in a short period of time.
People in "The first generation" were always determined and ambitiously seeking for a better life. Many of those were struggling with their new environments just simply to survive for another day.
Almost 60 years ago, there was one exodus of people heavily suffering from years of draught from the southern part of China to Thailand. We (I mean all of the Thai--- they and their descendents included) always have a phrase describing thier nature upon their arrivals as, "originally arrived with a sleeping mat and a pillow"...
From this, to survive another day, they did everything to earn money for themselves and their family. They tried and tried to fit in, they tried and tried to learn the new language, they tried and tried to win hearts of the natives, and they tried and tried so hard to fit in even by being invisible.
These were not trivial for them to accomplish. They spent years and years to achieve.... Today, they made it... They and their descendents are considered to be all Thai.
Personally, I'm a mixed blood (maybe around 25% Chinese) between Thai and Chinese, and I'm darn proud of that.... However, basically, I can't speak or write or read any Chinese.
When I was in my highschool (which is considered to be the best on the land), my classmates were loaded with chinese-looking characteristics. Most of them were the second or third genertation of their ancestors who originally migrated from the China Mainland.
Although they were "pure-blood" (100% Chinese), but almost all of them couldn't read, write or understand Chinese.... In the class, we were all the same mixed all well together with Thai educational system.... We all aimed to reach the highest levels of education which eventually led us to other achievement in our lives--- We're all trying to fit in.
That was in 2528. Time is always a factor that may change our thoughts, right? Issues we are thinking and making a decision today might be tremendously different when we revisit them in the next 20 years. I revisited this issue again when I had a chance to have a re-union party with the group of my dearest friends. Recently, I asked some of them about what should have been done if they could.... Many of them told me that they shouldn't leave a chance to learn Chinese language... But they didn't feel regret about that.... They just would like to fit into a benign society they love.... (which in that part myself included). :)
Five years ago, my wife and I brought my children from Thailand to the US. In analogy, I became "the first generation" myself.... Similarly, my wife and I had to struggle with our educational commitment and nuturing our children simultaneously... Basically we didn't have much time to provide them with our previous national heritage, Thai language. It wasn't our priority.... To be honest with you, not at all.
So my older son, "the second generation", had solely American education, environments and friends. Understandably, he tried to fit in his new culture... Since he had never come back to Thailand, he had no idea what is going to be like in his original culture.
As a parent, I had no regret to bring him here nor introduce him to Thai language/cultures. I believe that he would be able to "fit in" again once he is re-introduced into his original culture.
Anyway, it's ideal that the second and third generation should be able to "bridge" between the colliding cultures..... This will tremendously benefit ones who can.... In lay term, ones who truly understand and dexterously exploit more cultures or languages would be more competitive in this world which is constantly shrinking and being globalized in economic jargons.
Don't you think so?
At present, we've seen one bridge emerging... This is an excellent way to go....
A very interesting issue, indeed, K. A.T. I have been assigned to teach a course called Foundations of Bilingualism and Biligual Eduation. I hope to learn a lot more about how to deal with issues that parents and teachers have to encounter as our world becomes even more complexly merged.
As far as building bridges, I have noticed that Korean parents are very concerned about preserving their Korean ways. While that may push for the bridges to be stronger, a lot of kids are also feeling the burden of expectations of their shoulders. I hope to be able to share more on these related issues as the course begins in June.
I was trying to send you a message on your professional life subgroup. However, there was no success inspite of my several attempts. I don't know if I can even send my comment to you from here. We'll see.
P.S. Sorry for discussing a non-related issue to this topic.
เพราะเขาเชื่อว่าถ้าคนที่มาจากบ้านที่พูดภาษาอื่น มีความเข้าใจในภาษาของตนดี ก็จะสามารถเติมเต็มในภาษาอื่นได้ และไม่รู้สึกว่าตัวเอง loose their own ground.และเมื่อรู้สึกดีในตัวเองได้แล้ว สิ่งดีๆอย่างอื่นก็จะตามมา
Grant Elm sch in Salem is one of the success school in believing in this. The kids in this sch learn solid Eng for two days and go for Spanish for the rest and the following week will be this alternative as vice versa.
The sch claims to have high rate in kids sucessful. They even get the recognition from The White House!
CA and AZ don't seem to care much about teaching kids bilinguals, I suppose. I think AZ get some kind of fine right now, but I didn't know the detail much just yet.
Anyhow, to know more than one language is always an essential.
I will never make it in here, if all I know is one language.
================================= Note: My life has been intertwined with works and many others. New responsibility has emerged, resulting less and less time for my ordinary life. Although, a love to write is still intact... But having less time is related to having less imagination.... Therefore, I could not come up with new writings for quite some times.
It might be a good time for me to leave this forum for moment.... Please take it as Mr. A.T. is having a sabbactatical leave or something like that....
As noted above, my love to write is still the same... and will not be changed. Sometimes somehow, I hope I could come back and give some thoughts in this blog once more.
Cheers, Mr. A.T. June 6th, 2008
=================================
Hello,
My pen-name in Pantip is amatuer translator. Actually, I'm a lousy translator with lame translation. My pen-name is somewhat misleading, I have no background in linguistics what-so-ever. Anyway I love to read, write and communicate with people...
Reading is my most favorite hobby. I read everything from shopping bags to articles in theoretical physics. I do research and teaching for my living. So, reading, writing, thinking and doing research works are my everyday routine.
I would like to define myself as a person who is accepting new ideas and adopting those into my way of life.
I believe in power of knowledge/education. I think every society can be a better society with knowledge. Ignorance can be dispelled by it. Humanity can live sustainably and harmoniously with each other along with its biosphere with understandings in the nature surrounding it.
Apart from my philosophical thoughts reflecting who I am, I can tell you something I like or love in particular;
I love dogs.... Particularly, labradore retrievers.... One day, I would like to spend my time and life with them as a big part of my family.
Zhuge Liang is my hero. With his wisdom and faithfulness, he led a tiny army to a mighty and formidable kingdom. He left his humble residence with a hope to come back. But, sadly, he had never returned and died far far away from home in a horse carriage in a battle field. If I could choose where I would, I would say where-ever my lovely wife was nearby.
I value happiness and my family as my first priority. My profession and my philosophy come in the second. Pursuit in wealth has never been in my desire.
I'm glad to be your friend, and look forward to seeing you around krub.
ฝากข้อความหลังไมค์
Rss Feed
ผู้ติดตามบล็อก : 1 คน [
Raising kids in here is not easy.
ต้องคอยดูเพราะไม่อยากเห็นเขาเป็นฝรั่งแบบตกขอบ แล้วก็ไม่อยากตีกรอบแคบๆให้เขาอยู่ในนั้น
ดิฉันมีลูกชายสองคน ซึ่งก็น่าสนใจทั้งคู่
น่าสนใจเพราะเวลาเลี้ยงเขามาก็เลี้ยงอย่างเดียวกัน แต่โตมาก็ไปกันคนละแบบ
คนโตที่เคยเห็นว่าเรียนหนังสือเก่งมาก น่าจะไปถึงไหนๆ(ตามสูตรสำเร็จ) แต่ก็ยังไม่ไปไหน ในขณะที่เจ้าตัวนึกว่าเขาได้อะไรมามากในชีวิต อันนี้จริง ถ้าเปรียบเราเมื่อมีอายุเท่าเขา
คนน้องนี่ไม่เคยมีอะไรโดดเด่น เรียบๆเรื่อยๆอยู่ รร เดียวกับพี่ แต่คนก็จำชื่อไม่ได้ จนเขาเคยมาพูดอย่างน้อยใจว่า คนไม่รู้เหรอ ว่า I got name.
แต่อยู่ๆไปเขาก็ค่อยๆ rise and shine เอง
เราเองก็ดูเขาต่อไป คือเป็นพ่อเป็นแม่นี่ก็ทำได้เท่าที่เราทำได้เนี่ยนะคะ
และก็หวังว่าเขาจะ make good choice in life and be happy.
ขอให้คุณมีความสุข raising your family and hope they walk in good path as you lead them.
นะคะ