Chinese or ethnic Chinese: unseen travel barriers

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-08-02

Overseas Chinese in London display China's national flag to welcome
Chinese premier Li Keqiang, June 17. (File photo/CNS)

In recent years, growing numbers of overseas ethnic Chinese who arrive in China to tap the ample opportunities now brimming in the country are faced with unseen barriers, chief among them issues of cultural identity, reports the party-run People's Daily.

Those people, who travel to China for study, work or business, are often caught in an identity crisis. "When asked about my origins, I say I am British, only to have the inquirer insisting that I am and will always be Chinese. However, they would be at a loss later after listening to me speaking Chinese with a heavy accent, and sporting an authentic British tone when speaking English," remarked Emma Sun, who has been working in Zhejiang province for five years.

"After living in the country for quite a while, more and more local people would treat me like a native Chinese person because of the way I looked. I get confused about my identity as well," said Charles Cheng, a New York-born Chinese American who came to China to study at Peking University in 2011.

Most overseas ethnic Chinese experience culture shock when they first arrive in China. "With a childhood spent in the UK, I differ sharply with the mindset of local Chinese, which often hinders my communication with them," Emma Sun said.

Many overseas ethnic Chinese have difficulty adapting to local customs and habits. Carol Zhou, a Chinese American who opened a cake store in Beijing four years ago, has a hard time comprehending the penchant of Chinese people for bargaining, which is rare in the US. "I'm entirely at a loss when customers try to haggle over the price of a cake," she said.

"With broken Chinese, many overseas ethnic Chinese like me have difficulty blending into the local society. It's very difficult for me to understand Chinese idioms and slang in vogue, although I have no problem in daily conversation," Charles Cheng said.

Cheng reported however that he has made substantial progress mingling with local people. "I try to follow local customs and understand local people from the Chinese mindset. It's very important to have more exchanges with natives," he said.

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