The term ‘British born Chinese’ suggests that the BBC generation is already different to other Chinese people. But why is this naming necessary? I think the answer lies in the way we have been brought up in western society and therefore with its culture and values. Though our parents tried to remind us of our culture, heritage and background, it has been hard for the majority of us to remain ‘Chinese’.
Most BBCs I know are Hong Kongese.It is natural for us to miss our homeland. Some people don’t even know where their parent’s hometown is, whilst some of us don’t remember or have never met their elderly relatives. When we try telling other people about our culture, you have the feeling that they don’t understand it or accept our way of life. For example most foreigners tend to ridicule our superstitions and religious customs.
For Chinese New year, I saw many western people in London’s Chinatown to join in the festivities. But I could not help but feel that they were there only for the British-Chinese entertainment and food. To the western audience, the celebrations may have been elaborate, but to the Chinese the celebrations were incomparable to the real festivities back in Hong Kong and China.If anything, it made me nostalgic and reminiscent. Chinese Icons
In the western world, the whole idea of the oriental is rapidly becoming ‘fashionable’ and popular. But I have to ask what right do they have to commercialise our culture? Even though I am proud that our culture is being celebrated worldwide, I can’t help but feel that our traditional and cultural ways are being westernised and modernised. To the western world, the oriental may be a fashion icon whereas for the Chinese it is traditional history and a way of life. At the heart of the Chinese
Every Chinese person knows that ‘Chinese takeout’ in Britain is not the same as the restaurants in Hong Kong and China. England has its fast food outlets whilst the Chinese equivalent is congee and noodle restaurants. The restaurants and takeaways cater especially for the needs of the British public by making stereotypical menus of sweet and sour pork, fried rice and spring rolls.
Home cooked meals and traditional Chinese meals bear no resemblance to these so called ‘Chinese food’. The chefs skills are the same as chefs in Asia as well since most of the first generation were born there and therefore grew up learning culinary skills from their parents. How many of your bbc friends know how to make Chinese soup or cook like their parents?
I think we’ve grown up with less motivation to learn to cook because some of us have become accustomed to Western cooking, foods and restaurants. In Hong Kong they don’t have ovens whilst some westerners only form of cooking is using an oven or microwave. In Hong Kong, most people buy fresh foods in the markets whilst in England most people go to the local supermarket for convenience. Staying true
So whilst most of us BBC stick to making BBC friends, and most of us think that we have stayed true to our culture, I ask you to think again about whether we have lost our Chinese identity in this new and modern world.Are we really different to the second generation young adults in Hong Kong and China? When we are constantly surrounded by the heavily influential Western media, it is hard not to recognise that your thinking and actions have changed. There are many British-Chinese organisations and companies across the UK designed to keep us BBC connected to the Chinese culture, and yet how many of us bother to keep connected? What do you think? Join the debate and post your comments below. |
Viewpoints 
