Born Across Borders

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Along the same topic of the last post I also wanted to post up a link to the latest Asian Pop column where Jeff Yang talks with Stephanie Wang-Breal ("Wo Ai Ni Mommy") and Deann Borshay Liem ("In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee") as well as gives a little of his own views on the topic.

But once in a while, you see a little reminder that transcultural parenthood comes with unique complications. Like the time I watched a woman dissolve into tears when she couldn't understand what her lovely daughter was screaming in full meltdown mode (something to do with a dispute over chalk that had escalated into madness, as far as I could tell, given my elementary-school Mandarin). Or the eavesdropped conversation I caught in which a doting dad expounded on the benefits of adopted Asian kids over "American" kids, because they come over here smart and obedient, and instinctively know how to work hard and sacrifice. It sounded a little like someone boasting about the handling and fuel efficiency of his imported car.
Read it in full here.