When I first started reading grandma’s story, or I should say her view of things I was a bit concerned. To be honest I was a bit concerned about the dialogue being used. Maybe it is just me, but although I was reading the text silently to myself I could hear an Asian voice speaking the English words. At first I thought I was going to have to reread the text multiple times to decide what was going on or what grandma meant to say. The way the words flowed together was a sure sign this was not someone who knew english like the palm or her hand. But next thing you know, I couldn’t put the book down and am dead set on not only finishing the book but also keeping it.
I don’t know what the transition was but I had no problem following along to grandma’s voice and I thoroughly enjoyed her voice in fact. I loved the way the simple words of her story indirectly opened up her world to me. I felt through her context alone I was gaining personal knowledge of who this lady was and that is something I really enjoy about reading. I love getting lost in a book and reading as though I am going through someone’s diary. I love being introduced to a new world, and therefore I loved grandma’s character most. In fact, oddly enough, I had a more difficult time following, “Cold- hearted,” than I did this. I love grandma’s story and didn’t really connect much with the steak guy.
Grandma’s voice was so honest it was welcoming, despite the bluntness she offered. But I never looked down upon grandma, even when Grandma admitted, “Now I know why the Chinese beat the Irish” (page 175). When I read that I didn’t think grandma was rude and bitter or not very open- minded. I read that and was absolutely fascinated with her ability to tell me who she was without being afraid that I wouldn’t like her. Or when grandma spanked Sophie for misbehaving, even after Sophie’s parents said no, and then didn’t lie but was very deceitful about how she got Sophie to listen. Grandma was very sneaky in hiding the spanking when she replied, “After twenty- eight years experience with you, I guess I learn something” (page 182). If grandma were someone else, anyone else, I would have been highly disappointed in the lack of truth.
But it was grandma, and I believe grandma knows best. Grandma offered me information about her culture and what they believe in. Everything she said seemed to have an indirect statement attached. Such as her commenting on the husband having issues not working, but also issues when he was working. It was as if she were trying to convince me the husband was just a whiney Irish brat, without directly mentioning it. I’m a firm believer in keeping family traditions alive, even if they are no longer deemed acceptable. I felt as if grandma was trying very hard to keep their Chinese heritage alive, and I really admire and respect that. Especially because I also felt as though grandma were trying to understand the Irish family as well. I’m sure grandma didn’t like having to compromise her family’s background but I suppose the bittersweetness of it all is that she did it for the love of her daughter, and I really love that ending.
Here is a video I thought could represent a view on the difference of relationships between parents and their kids vs the culture. Also, forgive me, and no offense to anyone, but I laughed a bit during this clip.
Jessica, the grandmother's voice is so well-crafted that I feel like you get to know her better than you would otherwise.
ReplyDeleteFunny clip! I think immigrant comedian humor could be the topic of an entire course.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteWell, finally I am commenting your post now. I really like something that grandmother said, such as “I grew up with black bean sauce and hoisin sauce and garlic sauce.” I am impressed that she can even used food to describe her strong personality compared to John’s “plain boiled” personality. You know what? I really like your point and I have strong sympathy to grandmother too. I think she really just wanted to keep the family together and raise Sophie with a nicer personality.
I agree with you that grandmother just wanted to keep her culture and pass it on to Sophie, she thinks that if she was able to pass it on to Natalie, then Sophie should also take it. Just comment on what you mentioned above, “After twenty- eight years experience with you, I guess I learn something” said by grandmother, it is a strong support and evidence that growing up with a Chinese culture isn’t bad for Natalie. She is now having a great position in the bank, because her Chinese side pushes her to work hard and not like those four Irish descendants, who didn’t really learn their culture. I think one of the reasons that she really wants Sophie to be more Chinese side is because she afraid that Sophie will be wild, crazy, lazy after she grew up, and grandmother definitely doesn’t want that to be happened.
She not only wanted to keep the good part of her own culture, but also worried about her granddaughter’s future. I felt really sorry to grandmother because no one really knows her feeling. When she was younger, she is very strong, hard working and fierce, but now her daughter is capable of feeding herself and the family, so she thinks her mom is just a old and useless mother, she can’t do anything else and can’t even take good care of Sophie. I think this really hurts grandmother’s feeling.
Hey Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI found it really interesting that you posted the exact same video as I did. Are you trying to copy me? Haha, just kidding. Anyway, if you were laughing at the short clip, we must have something in comment. Anyway, back to the main topic. I agree with you that grandma knows best. In the story “Who’s Irish”, grandma is my favorite character. What grandma said in the story sometimes appears to be decimating against the Irish people but I don’t think so. Because she said it based on the facts on not just by judging them from the outside. The Irish people in the story are represented by John who appears to be quite lazy. Obviously Bess is an exception to this because she had to raise four children by herself. I dislike John for being so lazy even though he is supposed to the man of the household. I also blame Natalie for not urging John to work harder. Not only that, but Natalie also does not know how to appreciate her mother. Natalie keeps complaining about grandma’s actions when it comes to raising a child. It just does not make sense when a child (Natalie) is trying to teach her own mother on how to do something that her mother has been doing for “twenty eight years.” (Jen 182) Overall, my belief is similar to yours. I believe strongly in family traditions, and my actions are very family oriented either. Maybe that’s why I can understand what grandma is thinking easily. Anyway, good work from you. Keep it up.
What's up Jessica~
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you try to understand a different culture so hard. Actually, maybe you didn't try that hard to understand this old lady, but you just could understand her and adore her. Like you, I cannot blame grandma anything. As you say “Grandma’s voice was so honest it was welcoming, despite the bluntness she offered.” I really apprieciate the bluntness of Grndma, even though sometime it may hurt. Here I would like to share with you some of my opinions about grandma.
Firstly, I want to say that grandma is like the average Chinese woman at that time. She is just like every traditonal Chinese mother who care a lot about her daughter and her child. Grandma’s strongest will in this article is to see her daughter’s happiness. This is why she is not satisfied with her husband, because grandma thinks that it is his responsibility now to take care of her daughter for her. And grandma would like to be the baby sitter for Sophie, because she hope that Sophie can grow up in a good way, no matter what it will cost.
Secondly, what I like about grandma is that she never complains. All she does is for the well-being of her family. I can imagine that her life is not easy. It is very hard for a old lady to accept and adapt to a totally new environment. She struggles a lot, but she never complain about those things to her daughter. She doesn’t care about herself that much, but all her heart is on her family. She wants to keep the family together and keeps the tradition of the Chinese Culture.
I like grandma’s way of telling the story. She never directely tells you what is in her heart, but you can feel it through the words.
When I first started to read “Who’s Irish” I was taken back by the dialect at first as well. I believe that Jen really uses dialect well in this piece, and portrayed the Grandmother spectacularly. She was really able to capture the character, and give a sense of actually being there, listening to her speak and tell stories of her life. I too, liked the character of the Grandma- how fierce she was, independent, and strong. During the reading, she constantly seemed to bash on other cultures, I wonder if this is a result of the Chinese being considered outcasts for so long, so that she no longer has sympathy for them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think we have to look at the other characters in the reading as well, and how the Grandmother might have effected them, such as her daughter, Natalie. I believe it would hard to live between to conflicting cultures, and the Grandmother is constantly pushing Chinese culture on Natalie. It be hard to raise a child when your Mother is constantly telling you that you are doing it wrong, and continues to raise the child when your not there in a different way then you do when you are home. That’s what the Grandmother tends to do when she watches Sophie for Natalie. Despite having told the Grandmother countless times that she should not spank Sophie among countless other things, the Grandmother does it anyway. I believe that this would be frustrating as a Mother and as Daughter.
Also, I think it is interesting that you find the ending to be a good one. The ending to me seems to be a bit depressing. The Grandmother is stuck “never going anywhere”. I feel a sense of helplessness at the end of the reading, and I really sympathize with the Grandmother. Her daughter does not have time to visit her (whether that is true or not), she’s stuck living with an Irish family (although Bess is great, her son’s want the Grandmother gone), and she is completely cut off from all ties of the Chinese culture in which she holds in such a high regard.
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYou know what, this is my first try to comment on a non-Asian’s post. Well, I was just seeking for any fellow feelings through those Asian friends. However, I stopped at your blog here, and I am now realized that there shouldn’t be any difficulty to communicate with you guys, who are not set behind the Asian traditional background, about cultural issues. I feel moved after reading your diary. Not for your support of the grandma character, but I just feel like more comfortable to study in the United States. As your post said, “I don’t know that the transition was but I had no problem following along to grandma’s voice and I thoroughly enjoyed her voice in fact.” From my point of view, you just told me that no matter where we come from, we are in one world. Many students coming from Asia are afraid of studying abroad more or less. Take me for example. I was sometimes afraid of speaking English in front of Americans, or rarely shared of my perspectives on my Chinese traditions. While, why bother? It shouldn’t be like this.
I agree with you at the point of grandma’s voice was so honest and it was welcoming. When grandma spanked Sophie for misbehaving, even after Sophie’s parents said no, she didn’t lie but was very deceitful about how she got Sophie to listen. Grandma was shown in the story without any making up.
Yes, I also hold that grandma didn’t like having to compromise her family’s background. She moved away from her daughter ‘s place because she loves her daughter, her family more than anything.
Chao
Chao (and everyone else)- Please don't be afraid of speaking English around other Americans, and if you ever need help ask me! I am so fascinated with the Asian culture, or so it seems. Personally I get excited when other people of the world come to America to study abroad and such. I don't know how to make going to China work with my schedule so I am really glad to have you guys come here. I think it's great to have the opportunity to get to know another culture, and I would LOVE to hear more about yours... seriously.
ReplyDelete