Monday, December 12, 2005
Why I hate Chinese !
You may think that I must be crazy or am an idiot when I choose this title. Or you may think that I have metamorphosed completely into a white or I betray my ancestors.
A few years ago, I had supper with another Chinese scientist together with some other Canadians in a Chinese restaurant. We then began to talk about the Chinese restaurant owners making lots of money. Then this Chinese scientist told us that a lot of Chinese restaurant owners never reported the real income to the government to avoid paying income tax. For frequent customers, they asked them to pay cash. In return, the customers do not pay tax. Since there was no receipts issued, the owners would not report as income. Most of the Chinese are willing to do that since they pay less. It gives people the impression that all Chinese are very good in tax invasion. I just hate it!
In September, I went to Toronto two times within a short time. It always give me a headache drivng in those areas with high concentration of Chinese. At one time I was on the right turn lane to turn right before the traffic light. Before the light turned green, the car on my left side turned right in front of me (though he was in go-straight lane). There was almost an accident if I started my car a little faster. The driver was a typical young Chinese man with an expensive model car. I hate it!
When the Chinese or more appropriate the Hong Kongers, talk, they usually raise their voice a little bit higher. Some one comments that Chinese or mostly Cantonese cannot talk, they yell all the time. Though these comments may be a little bit exaggerated, I have seen some very awkward moments, usually in the subways or buses. Chinese restaurants are notorious noisy, especially during the dim sum tea time. It is so noisy that everyone has to yell to cover others' voices. I hate it!
Believe it or not, there are five different kinds of Chinese in Canada: Hong Kong Chinese, Taiwan Chinese, Mainland China Chinese, Chinese from other countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Philipine etc) and Canadian born Chinese (CBC), and they separate themselves very well. Usually there are three Chinese Student Associations in a Univeristy: one for the HK Chinese, one for the Chinese from Taiwan, and one for the Chinese from China. The other Chinese from other countries mostly join the Taiwan one if they speak Mandarin, others join the HK one. CBCs are the lost one, but they don't care about the Chinese Students Association. If they join they would mostly join the HK one because they are more willing to speak English among themselves. In a small town likes Sault Ste. Marie, there are not many Chinese, and one expects all the Chinese would come closer to each other. In reality, it is not true. The Chinese from HK can be very good friends with the Chinese from other English speaking countries, because we are all willing to communicate in English. However, most of the Chinese HK cannot speak very well Mandarin, and the Chinese from China are not willing to communicate in English. As a result it is tough to make friends between groups. Besides language, there are some cultural differences. The HK Chinese are more westernized and they tend to treat themselves more Canadians than Chinese. The Chinese from China are the opposite. They are very "Chinese". Why do the Chinese have to classify themselves and ignoring the other groups even we are the same? Can we use a common language to understand each other more? When I meet a new Chinese, what language should I use, Cantonese, Mandarin (waterskin level), or English? Good grief, I hate it!
A few years ago, I had supper with another Chinese scientist together with some other Canadians in a Chinese restaurant. We then began to talk about the Chinese restaurant owners making lots of money. Then this Chinese scientist told us that a lot of Chinese restaurant owners never reported the real income to the government to avoid paying income tax. For frequent customers, they asked them to pay cash. In return, the customers do not pay tax. Since there was no receipts issued, the owners would not report as income. Most of the Chinese are willing to do that since they pay less. It gives people the impression that all Chinese are very good in tax invasion. I just hate it!
In September, I went to Toronto two times within a short time. It always give me a headache drivng in those areas with high concentration of Chinese. At one time I was on the right turn lane to turn right before the traffic light. Before the light turned green, the car on my left side turned right in front of me (though he was in go-straight lane). There was almost an accident if I started my car a little faster. The driver was a typical young Chinese man with an expensive model car. I hate it!
When the Chinese or more appropriate the Hong Kongers, talk, they usually raise their voice a little bit higher. Some one comments that Chinese or mostly Cantonese cannot talk, they yell all the time. Though these comments may be a little bit exaggerated, I have seen some very awkward moments, usually in the subways or buses. Chinese restaurants are notorious noisy, especially during the dim sum tea time. It is so noisy that everyone has to yell to cover others' voices. I hate it!
Believe it or not, there are five different kinds of Chinese in Canada: Hong Kong Chinese, Taiwan Chinese, Mainland China Chinese, Chinese from other countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Philipine etc) and Canadian born Chinese (CBC), and they separate themselves very well. Usually there are three Chinese Student Associations in a Univeristy: one for the HK Chinese, one for the Chinese from Taiwan, and one for the Chinese from China. The other Chinese from other countries mostly join the Taiwan one if they speak Mandarin, others join the HK one. CBCs are the lost one, but they don't care about the Chinese Students Association. If they join they would mostly join the HK one because they are more willing to speak English among themselves. In a small town likes Sault Ste. Marie, there are not many Chinese, and one expects all the Chinese would come closer to each other. In reality, it is not true. The Chinese from HK can be very good friends with the Chinese from other English speaking countries, because we are all willing to communicate in English. However, most of the Chinese HK cannot speak very well Mandarin, and the Chinese from China are not willing to communicate in English. As a result it is tough to make friends between groups. Besides language, there are some cultural differences. The HK Chinese are more westernized and they tend to treat themselves more Canadians than Chinese. The Chinese from China are the opposite. They are very "Chinese". Why do the Chinese have to classify themselves and ignoring the other groups even we are the same? Can we use a common language to understand each other more? When I meet a new Chinese, what language should I use, Cantonese, Mandarin (waterskin level), or English? Good grief, I hate it!
