did you ever reject your eurasian identity?

[Nikki]

^ooooh, i think that's the song that nearly every single school is using as their graduation song this year!

Angela Aki. Nice.

[2bob]

^haha that chick reminds me of a half japanese version of alicia keys...shes got talent!

[jefe]

Jun 8, 2009 18:39:20 GMT -5 mingzayni88 said:

also,he was basically the only person w/ any African heitage in his household (i believe his father wasn't around), so i don't get how he would identify only w/ being black.

I don't think that is the only thing he identifies with

-- but being a TCK multi-racial, I think he wanted to create a family that was NOT like the one he grew up in.

[jenbrook]

I totally understand that.. i'm a TCK multiracial and its not as cool as it sounds. I wouldnt want my kids to go through the same thing.

[edit - for those confused, TCK = third culture kid, term used often at international schools and nouveau psychology studies]

[2bob]

^what's so bad about it? it sounds kinda cool

[Paddy]

Cultural dislocation. Not learning your mother tongue, not learning the native language, often ending up with an Americanised international accent...amongst other things. I'm not a TCK but I know plenty - of course not all EA.

And many (most?) international schools, though expensive, are not garnered towards academic excellence because of the peripatetic lifestyles of the kids and their families. Similar (and sometimes synonymous with) Parachute Kids - heard of 'em? Parent's parachute kids into new schools and cultures and then leave them to it. It takes a lot of work on behalf of the school to build a robust system and a good reputation on the back of trying circumstances brought about by the internationalisation of parents' professional pursuits. Bright kids, passionate teachers and good facilities can all struggle with transient and uncertain circumstances. In the end, a lot of kids, despite having a good time, move in (often pseudo-) elite circles which usually exacerbate their cultural and social affinities.

I'd have no qualms about sending my kid to a good international school, but would be very wary of sending my kid to an under-par one.

Sorry for the geeky response!

[jenbrook]

Pads.. Thats pretty accurate! There are some serious illusions of grandeur associated with growing up at international schools where standard is to be really, really wealthy. Also, the cultural dislocation and transient lifestyle of a TCK is pretty sweet dont get me wrong, i dont want to take that for granted.. but it can be a b1tch if you dont have a stable family life, like obama. Its akin to growing up in a washing machine.. you end up very very dizzy

[2bob]

lol sorry im confused....are u guys saying that International school don't get good results??

is that why they're bad?

[toyomansi]

May 26, 2009 21:32:47 GMT -5 Kush said:

I'd describe my identity as Chinese/Asian as living in a white society that is how I am perceived, want to be identified as and am happily currently being perceived.

Yeah, I know there is English blood in me - I don't deny that - but nowadays I downplay it, as after all I'm already living in England and that's enough Englishness for me. But that's just blood, it doesn't proportionally affect what I look like or take interest in.
Plus, the culture is awesome, the history is awesome etc. etc.

lol, my words exactly (except I'm not Chinese/English) ^^

sometimes I let people think I'm full asian and barely mention being mixed. because when they find out I'm mixed (and born and raised in norway), many automatically expect me to speak, act and think like a norwegian -_-'

and they get really surprised when they see me acting all asian and stuff, and they can't understand why I'm much more into asian pop culture, food etc. and more easily make friends with asians than them. they then conclude that I'm rejecting my norwegian heritage and pretending to be something I'm not.

but I'm not rejecting anything or anyone, I'm just being myself ^^ I can't explain to them why I am the way that I am, and try to map out the whole story of my life (that would be like making each and every person explain why they are who they are). hopefully I can just be myself, without having to "justify" it with a good story/explanation... can anyone relate to this?

[Paddy]

Jun 15, 2009 17:05:19 GMT -5 toyomansi said:

... can anyone relate to this?

Yes, of course.

[toyomansi]

^ really? most people I meet with foreign ancestry who are born and raised here say they feel/identify mostly as norwegian (especially EAs). is it different in other countries? :)

[jaz]

Jun 8, 2009 6:39:58 GMT -5 Subuatai said:

It's always nice to read history, I never even knew of my own people's contributions to Australia until this:

In multicultural pioneering history of Australia we also do have many Mongolian/Turanian people to honour; - the cameleers, who in the 1800's were invited to come from Afghanistan and Pakistan to run camel-trains that carried supplies in the outback.
Some descendants claim their ancestry back to Chingghis Khaan or the Turk nomads and the culture is still upheld by a few communities.
Especially in the desert areas cameleers history is respected and celebrated to this day as it is still vividly remembered.

These Cameleers who came:

... were adventurous, young, unmarried men, mainly from nomad background

... were from various backgrounds and countries near Afghanistan, but they were all called "Afghans".

... Europeans became dependent on, they were very reliable

... built Ghantowns, and different ethnic groups became to regard them as friends and neighbours, close-knit communities formed, (no religious intolerance, because this was seen as something everybody personally needs to decide for themselves)

... employed Aboriginal men and women, thus exchange of skills, knowledge and goods developed, resulting in enduring partnerships and several marriages. (Cameleers didn't like the harsh treatment of indigenous peoples by the by the "fringi" (white Australians), this kind of disrespect to natives the cameleers could not accept)

... lived to great old ages over 90, even though their work was very hard.


Later when motorised transport took over the camel-trains, cameleers were asked to shoot their camels. This they could not do, but instead let them go free. Hence we now have a million wild camels in the desert.

I'd heard about the cameleers before, although had mostly read about them described as "Afghans" and didn't realise they were more diverse!

[Subuatai]

Heh me either to be honest, I've only come to learn this from a friend who works in the indigenous community. Rather surprised too, cause they sound a lot like Hazaras.

[Paddy]

Jun 16, 2009 13:39:30 GMT -5 toyomansi said:

^ really? most people I meet with foreign ancestry who are born and raised here say they feel/identify mostly as norwegian (especially EAs). is it different in other countries? :)

Well, when I said 'of course', I was speaking for myself rather than EAs in the UK. I feel the way you do. People here expect me to behave like an Englishman, and when I prefer Asian food, listen to Chinese music and feel more comfortable with Asian friends, I'm treated like I've betrayed my white side (with most people not know that I have 'another side'). Of course, I'm just behaving in a way that I am comfortable with, and I don't feel guilty about it!

And to balance things out, I have a lot of British born Chinese friends who are pretty anglicised, so it's not as though I am truly rejecting the green pastures of England.

[fei]

I never see myself as EA. I always refer myself as half English or Half Malay.