A.S. CHUNG
My six-year-old daughter is an ABC, not an FOB and therefore can be considered a Banana. Thank goodness she is not showing signs of being a Twinkie but on the road to growing up Fobulously!
Immigration and exponential population growth has given rise to a global ethnic diversity of epic proportions. I don’t need to delve into statistics for everyone to know that the colour of our skin is beginning to cross international boundaries and one can no longer automatically assume it is associated with their country of birth. This has inevitably given rise to multiracial unions and first generation immigrants being born in their country of residence. We are literally becoming more colourful! Society as we know is changing at a rapid rate and it is forcing everyday people to either accept the diversity or continue to struggle to co-exist in the general rat race.
I personally love what immigration and multiracial families are compelling us to do. I relish the changing landscape of language, heightened awareness of other cultures and the beautiful ability of everyone to inhabit the same space.
As a result of emigrating from Asia to Australia, my daughter is now a first generation Aussie, hence an Australian born Chinese. She was born in a first-rate hospital for women and is most certainly not fresh off the boat. Although I try to instil some Chinese traditions in her, she is a true Banana, Asian on the outside and but practically white on the inside. I am confident she won’t grow up being Twinkie, embarrassed by our loud Asian gatherings and only being able to converse in English. Instead, she’ll be Fobulous, having the ability to assimilate in both cultures and proud to have a varied heritage.
Derogatory or not, these slang acronyms and very specific cultural terminologies, do exist. Whether we approve of it or not, the Urban Dictionary is here to stay. It is now a highly useful resource to decipher these new words! Let’s not get too caught up and start debating about the correct use of the English language. The fact is multiculturalism has actively contributed to a whole new phrasebook!
Another reason I love multi-race marriages is that they are creating new ‘breeds’ of children. We are now able to loosely and humourously identify them as Filatinos, Blacknese, Chicanese, Chindian, Korgentinian or even Blaxican! From blue-eyed kids with afros to freckled brown skin with natural blonde hair, these children no longer fit in distinctive racial silos. I look at these families and I see nothing but beauty and a whole new world ahead of us.
Food culture has also naturally progressed away from the basic meat and two vegetables. I remember watching a movie once and this man was buying a gyros from a food vendor and he proclaimed “thank goodness for immigration!” I live in a metropolitan city that has embraced multiculturalism. I am constantly surprised by how educated we have all become about the different types of cuisines. We are now even able to tell if a traditional dish was up to par and where to get the best laksa or pho in town. I enjoy having the first world gastronomical problem of not being able to decide what to have for dinner, simply because we are spoilt for choice.
Children don’t see colour. Children see people. I recall a couple of conversations that made me wish we could live in this perpetual bubble of innocence where labels didn’t create racial boundaries.
Scenario one:
5-year-old child: Mummy, we had a new boy in our class today
Mum: Oh that’s lovely, what’s his name?
5-year-old child: His name is Dinesh and he brought these yummy spicy things for lunch called samosas.
Mum: Dinesh must be Indian?
5-year-old child: No mum, he’s vegetarian.
Scenario two:
5-year-old child: Mummy, Mattea and I played on the monkey bars at school today!
Mum: That’s nice sweetheart. What nationality is Mattea (I was not familiar with the origin of the name)?
5-year-old child: What do you mean?
Mum: Is Mattea maybe white or Asian?
5-year-old child: Neither Mummy, he’s a boy.
Looking back at these conversations, I made a whole bunch of assumptions and generalizations. It’s interesting the thought process I was going through and I, as an adult, brought race into the mix. She simply didn’t see her friends that way. To her, they were merely her classmates she went to school with and interacted with on a daily basis. Adults feel the need to classify cultures. We need to start realizing that this will become even more difficult as the lines continue to blur. Bottom line is, don’t do it. Don’t feel the need to compartmentalize people.
Multiracial families unknowingly teach us about other cultures. My daughter’s friendships have taught her that Teita is Grandma in Lebanese, Greek salad is a culinary delight because it always has crumbly feta and its good manners to take her shoes off when entering into an Asian home. She will continue to grow up in an environment that will educate her in the cultural traditions and customs.
It is imperative children are encouraged to assimilate and embrace multiracialism. This is the most effective education system which in turn fosters tolerance and understanding. Much conflict as we know it is borne out of ignorance and no desire to understand the diverse human race. We need multiculturalism to become an innate part of society. To the point where we can no longer imagine what life would be like without it.
Multi-race children inherit multiple ethnic backgrounds and by understanding the heritage of both their parents, they usually have a broader sense of the world. It allows them to be more empathetic in different scenarios instead of just having the one view-point. They become naturally open to understanding that different people make different decision based on diverse motivations. Possessing more than one language also contributes to children being more open-minded and worldly. The subtle etymology of their language brings about insights into their ethnicity.
The scientific and genetic advantage of “cross breeding” has become a prevalent topic for research. Does heterosis exist for humans? One would think it would! Imagine a population of children that have superior qualities or increased vigor in their genes purely from combining different races! A farfetched notion? Perhaps, but it is definitely worth exploring.
We will come to a point in the human race where a single race child will become a minority. When bi-racial adults themselves have children, the traceability of race origins will become imprecise. Multiculturalism and multi-race families have changed our way of life in more aspects than one can fathom. I for one am grateful to live in a city where this is so ingrained into everyday life. I am thankful that my daughter will be intrinsically educated outside of a classroom. My only hope is that we are all able to live and love harmoniously in this ever-changing kaleidoscope.
By A.S. Chung
Amy is an author, publisher, blogger, social media maven, crusader for women and children, but most of all, our good friend. She makes some great observations above and we ask that you give it some thought. Then, let us know what you think!
You can visit Amy here, and check out our interview with her here.
Enjoy your week,
Lora
Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. During the month of February, many organizations across Canada will work to raise awareness on this issue and give us the tools needed to stand up against bullying and step in when we see it happening. February 25th is 
Today is the day.
Listening and respecting others are pretty much self-evident, and is only a matter of allowing yourself to put them into action. Children learn “active listening skills” from their grade school teachers and keep us reminded of this elementary skill we adults and parents now call “being present.” When we talk to other adults, we can openly challenge that which we do not agree with. However, this approach can stifle a child’s willingness to speak openly. Since their desire is to please us, we need to make sure we do not curtail their emoting by our statements. We need to acknowledge their point of view, and then we can proceed to explain why we believe our point of view.
same. Our tone of voice conveys more to our children than any words. Statements can spill out of our mouths without our realizing how it can sound to a child. Tone of voice and listening were the two skills I immediately noticed and admired when I first met my husband before I knew what he did as a profession. As we became friends, then newlyweds and then as new parents, his listening-skills-training as a psychologist and physician, fostered an open communication style within our relationship and with our children. But you don’t need to be a doctor or married to one to put these skills into use. When attention is given to listening and noticing our projected tone of voice with our responses, we learn a lot about ourselves and how we come across to others with whom we are communicating, especially our children. When we convey patience and serenity in our conversation, it opens up discussion.
tough questions or topics I’d rather put off for an eternal “another time”, I’m reminded of two thoughts I’d like to share with you. I don’t remember which of the gazillion parenting books or articles where I read these, so I apologize for my failure of referencing the particular sources. Their emphasis on focusing on the moment and their wisdom reached out and grabbed my attention and my heart. They have helped me and have stayed with me to this day. I hope they do the same for you.
I was able to connect with Teresa and Bernard through our site’s various communications with authors and illustrators. After reading their book, I felt their story shone a light on a topic that most of us do not typically have a chance to discover, unless of course our lives are touched by this miracle. As a bonus, we also learned some healthy tips on relating to the most important loved ones in our lives.
generally cheer for Canada. We are fairly interested in how well our country, or adopted nation, is doing. During this time, we are all Canadian. Also, people are watching events they only care about once every four years. But when you talk about the World Cup, there’s a greater fascination with it because more people around the world watch football every week of every month of every year. When the big tournament finally rolls around, people begin to identify with their country of origin, a nationalistic fever rises up. Ethnic groups that were proud to cheer for Canada during the Olympics, suddenly discover their roots. Furthermore, even if your nation did not make it through the grueling 2 year World Cup qualification period, you will find a country to raise your voice for. That is the magic of football. It unites us all, under the umbrella of a global spectacle.
I was lucky enough to see Ecuador make it into the World Cup this time around, in a tough group, no less. But for 2 weeks, I was Ecuadorian, and staunchly so. That’s right; I was out on the street, waving my flag, in my nation’s jersey, shoulder to shoulder with other compatriots when they defeated Honduras. Then, I was proportionately devastated when they could not score just one more goal against the mighty French to see themselves through to the next round.
coverage of stadia, bars, streets and homes all around the world, you see women, men, children, grandparents, people from all walks of life, uniting to express their cultural pride for their colors. Cars honk to acknowledge your allegiance, people give you high fives in the supermarket when they see you in your nation’s jersey, and people share your pain walking down the street when your colours are defeated – the ultimate cultural expression.
in the world, and they know what to do. I’ve actually experienced this unique pleasure when I travelled through Europe. Wherever I visited, I picked up a little football souvenir and on several occasions, kicked it around in airports and train stations with people I had never met in my life, regardless of the fact that we did not share a language. That is powerful.
imagine. I watched the final in front of a massive screen on the streets of Avellino. When the last penalty went in and the blessed Azzurri were proclaimed world champions, I was embraced by hundreds of euphoric fans. What followed was an incredible, jubilant, yet peaceful celebration in the quaint little avenues of the small Italian town.
representation is, by no means, unique to football. But the World Cup manages to elicit a more passionate, fervent and almost religious-like following from more fans around the planet than any other event, including the Olympics. The tournament has a way of enabling citizens to puff out their chest; of giving them license to say this is our team and having great pride in their nation, and no other sporting event does that because no other sport truly embraces so many people from every corner of the globe. It is the ultimate economic equalizer. It is enjoyed in the poorest as well as the richest nations on the planet. It removes all obstacles and boundaries. Case in point, legends like Pele and Maradona used football to escape abject poverty. Magnates have built vast empires on the power of its fanaticism. The beautiful game is talked about in the most desolate favelas of Brazil just as it is in the wealthiest lunch rooms of Wall Street in New York.
the key one: it is the simplest and therefore most accessible game to play. No need for special equipment or confusing rules. Simply kick the ball. You can use tin can, a coconut, rolled up sock, I used to play with tennis ball before my parents bought me my own shiny new football. Find a couple of shirts or jackets, or anything for that matter, as posts, a couple of friends and you have a game. 
You can play anywhere – on grass, on pavement, in the school or office hall, in the rain, mud or snow, indoors or outdoors, on the beach. This, by the way, is a distinct indulgence for me – sun shining, bathing trunks, 
Words On A Limb 