My Famy Story

I am a second generation Chinese American. My paternal grandpa came over when he was younger in search of a better life. After he settled, he went back to China in search of a wife - my grandmother. My grandfather was the first in his family to be able to choose his wife because prior to that all marriages were arranged. He brought her back to America, and a year later my dad was born. They were the stereotypical Chinese: with a restaurant. They’ve lived in Chicago all their lives, but because they were from China and all of my grandmothers family is still alive and here, she is still very traditional Chinese.

Every year, usually the day before Chinese New Years, my entire dad’s side of the family comes over to the house for a huge feast. Because my parents have always lived in America and my aunts and uncles married out of race, within that first generation, much was lost. However, Chinese New Years was always a big deal in my family. My parents and grandma would cook all day, and each dish would have a special meaning. Shrimp gives you laughter, fish for abundance, and noodles for long life. There are many more, and you have to have a bite of everything even if you didn’t like it, so that you’d have a good new year.

There are many other small things I appreciate about being Chinese American. I speak Cantonese fluently at home, and that’s such a skill I want to keep. However, I only use it with my grandparents, and I’m losing it. My grandma would give me jade bracelets for protection. I used to know how to read prayers from her Buddha book. She’ll tell me many short stories with life lessons on being a good child, friend, person. My grandmother is a huge part in what shape me, and I want to carry that along with me.

Do you have any family traditions in your family? What kinds of beliefs and superstitions do you guys have? What do you want to keep in your future about your family ways and what would you maybe want to leave?