What about life…

As I was waiting for my ride the other day, I saw a little Chinese boy. He is about 5 or 6 years old. He is totally blind. He was walking with his father. He appeared happy. I did not understand what he was saying but he seemed to be asking questions in Chinese to his father. He was running and his father had a difficulty keeping up to him. As I was watching him, I remembered my childhood when I used to ask my parents about people. During that time, I believed that all people are kind. As soon as I entered the “world”, I discovered that there are people who are cruel, cold, and harsh. As they were walking away, I sighed and hope that he will be tough enough, as a person with disability, to face the complexities of life. Not everything that could be seen are necessay and beautiful.

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I was talking to a friend who just recently received his US citizenship. I was surprised that he seemed to be a like mad dog meowing instead of barking. He denied his ethnicity. He speaks English as fluently as he could but he could not hide his southern Philippine accent. This is sad reality. I observed that there is a great pressure to conform with the majority. This has resulted to a certain degree of dissociation that could result to mental instability, such as depression and anger. This is quite usual specially when the ego is not stable.

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I was not aware that there is an issue between a American born Asian, and Americans born and raised in Asia, until my friend talked about what happened to him at work. A Chinese woman at work told him, “I am surprised that you know a lot about Chinese traditions.” I was really surprised!!! First, my friend is Chinese raised by Chinese parents. Second, one need not be in China to learn about Chinese traditions.

I have seen people who came from Asia but totally denies their cultural traditions and practices. I have Asian friends who grew up here in the US but they are more sensitiveto the Asian way of life.

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