I Am So Damn Chinese

13 Dec

Proof. (Sometimes I need to be convinced myself) Breaks out into Chinese poetry about flowing rivers, the gorgeous scenery of Taroko, the aroma of the fresh tea leaves, and the Chinese temple across the river…

Taroko -- Enjoying my tea

I can also eat xiaolongbao with expert chopstick skills. I have come to think that the test of one’s Chinese-ness is also a test of one’s elegance in eating xiaolongbao with chopsticks (without breaking the skin and spilling soup everywhere); and how much xiaolongbao you can eat (I’m just liang long — two baskets — full of Chinese-ness!)…

So Chinese that when I passed a Pakistani restaurant at the Rao He night market last night, I desperately needed to get in there, drink chai, listen to South Asian music, before stepping back out into who I really am, deep down inside: a cussing swearing, bargaining, loudmouthed Hokkien lang, re-discovering her Hokkien roots in the train announcements, food orders, and in-store bargaining in the Taiwanese language. I think Amira’s birthday present to me last year might have something to do with this (the Javanese girl who is more Chinese than I can ever dream of gave me jade jewellery and told me to rub it so a “Chinese genie will appear and scold you in Hokkien”).

Touchdown midnight tomorrow, 12 hours in my own bed in my own country, and I’m off to see one of my oldest friends get married off. In Eastern Java.

possibly related

First Night in Taipei /Mai Hiam, Hor /In The City of Angels /Bangkok Lovin’ /Mungkin Nanti /
  • shame
    i think us Chinese are aesthetically/athletically challenged, good at nothing but cheap labor.

    Egyptian>pyramid
    Rome>gladiator
    France>paris and fashion
    japan>samurai
    USA>military and Dow Jones
    Dubai>Burj Al Arab and man made citi in dessert (a business recipe/success which isnt based on cheap labor and long hours!)
    Thai and Philippines> exotic beach resorts
    Chinese? > CHEAP LABOR and ugly Chinese restaurants serving expensive shark fin soup and Olympic athletes in red/yellow

    gosh - we are the underdog (and most apparently when people say "I am proud be being Chinese")
  • Sucking out the xiaolongbao soup from the top first is the only way to eat it!
  • amira
    you didn't even need the jade to realise this! i'm so proud of you!

    i miss u so so much. prepare to have your ear talked off when i get home baby cat!
  • Tym
    Yay --- based on your xiaolongbao test, I'm Chinese too! But I've never quite finished even yi long by myself.

    Happy travels!
blog comments powered by Disqus