Cultural self-analysis
Cultural self-analysis
My student ID was the first picture of me in the United States. My face was darker than usual since there was not enough light, but my facial expression could still be seen. I was smiling, but my smile could not mask the sense of nervousness and uncertainty I felt. Two minutes later, my name was printed on the ID card; it was my own, unique student ID card.
There is only one “Wan Chan” at Central College. “Wan” in Chinese means rhyme, melody, or music. I have no idea whether my parents wanted me to be a musician or poet when I was born, since I do not have the skills to become either one of these. One time I checked the meaning of “wan” in an English dictionary. Surprisingly, “wan” means “lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness” in English. “Chan” is one of the most popular last names in China. Sometimes I joke with my American friends and tell them I am related to Jacky Chan. I always tell people who do not speak Chinese to call me “Venice,” which is my English name. Venice is my favorite name because it is uncommon and is also the name of a romantic place in Italy.
Coming from China and living in the United States, diversity and international relations have always been fascinating to me. In order to perceive dissimilar cultures well, I ought to be aware of myself and my own culture first; therefore, I would like to share a brief history of Hong Kong because I believe we would not know ourselves without knowing our history.
I was born in Hong Kong, which is in the most southeastern part of China. Hong Kong started being well-known about 400 years ago when some Chinese craved to escape from the constant civil wars. Hong Kong was occupied by the United Kingdom in 1841, and formally ceded from China the following year. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. In its agreement with Hong Kong, China promised to follow the "one country, two systems"
My student ID was the first picture of me in the United States. My face was darker than usual since there was not enough light, but my facial expression could still be seen. I was smiling, but my smile could not mask the sense of nervousness and uncertainty I felt. Two minutes later, my name was printed on the ID card; it was my own, unique student ID card.
There is only one “Wan Chan” at Central College. “Wan” in Chinese means rhyme, melody, or music. I have no idea whether my parents wanted me to be a musician or poet when I was born, since I do not have the skills to become either one of these. One time I checked the meaning of “wan” in an English dictionary. Surprisingly, “wan” means “lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness” in English. “Chan” is one of the most popular last names in China. Sometimes I joke with my American friends and tell them I am related to Jacky Chan. I always tell people who do not speak Chinese to call me “Venice,” which is my English name. Venice is my favorite name because it is uncommon and is also the name of a romantic place in Italy.
Coming from China and living in the United States, diversity and international relations have always been fascinating to me. In order to perceive dissimilar cultures well, I ought to be aware of myself and my own culture first; therefore, I would like to share a brief history of Hong Kong because I believe we would not know ourselves without knowing our history.
I was born in Hong Kong, which is in the most southeastern part of China. Hong Kong started being well-known about 400 years ago when some Chinese craved to escape from the constant civil wars. Hong Kong was occupied by the United Kingdom in 1841, and formally ceded from China the following year. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. In its agreement with Hong Kong, China promised to follow the "one country, two systems"