Chinese Chinese culture vs. American Chinese culture

[Hofmann]

ARRRRRRGH!!

Yeah...so I have one day to write an essay comparing Chinese Chinese culture and American Chinese culture. I need ideas. Anyone?

[HashiriKata]

Should be interesting, and here's something to get you started:

What is Chinese Chinese culture? Are HongKong Chinese / Singapore Chinese/ Taiwan Chinese/ Mainland Chinese all counted as the same Chinese Chinese culture?

And what is American Chinese culture? What about British/ French/ Spanish Chinese cultures? And how about ethnic Chinese living in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, etc?

[ABCinChina]

Here's my thesis statement that I could write forever on..."There are indeed a multitude of differences between Chinese culture and overseas Chinese culture including, but not limited to differing ideals, beliefs, interests, goals, and thoughts on societal conduct".

Then the rest I would just Google and borrow ideas while changing them around with my own twist to avoid plagiarism. I've gotten so good at this that I can whip out a 1500 word paper in less than an hour.

[Hofmann]

I've gotten so good at this that I can whip out a 1500 word paper in less than an hour.

Can you do that in Classical Chinese?

Anyway,

Thanks for your replies. I've got an idea.

[carlo]

Can you do that in Classical Chinese?

You write essays in Classical Chinese? What kind of school do you go to, a 私塾? Always wanted to do that myself....

[ABCinChina]

Classical Chinese? Nope...it would take considerably longer for me in broken un-classical Chinese.

[teaforme]

Your essay topic is very, very broad. There's no simple way to respond without making lots of generalizations about China Chinese culture and American Chinese culture.

I also wanted to point out that within American Chinese culture is much variation due to geography and residence. There is the culture of people who live in Chinese enclaves within America, e.g. Monterey Park, CA; San Gabriel, CA; Flushing, NY, etc. The polar opposite would be those who live in places where they are the only Chinese for miles around. They would have a very different experience. (Jennifer 8. Lee's book, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, has an interesting section about Chinese immigrant restaurant workers who move to remote places to start Chinese restaurants. She talks quite at length about the struggles they face).

Also, generation plays a big role in American Chinese culture. A new immigrant Chinese would define his/her identity differently from someone who can trace his/her family's presence in America back several generations.

[adrianlondon]

So what did you write in the end, "Where they live" ?

[Hofmann]

Thanks, mates.

I agree that it's a really stupid prompt (but my draft of BS that I handed in today was okay). I'll ask for a change later.

[msittig]

(Come up with a thesis, and *then* do the research?)

[Hofmann]

Not my thesis. I've seen stupider prompts, like the one used in a recent writing contest. It's beyond stupid. It's impossible...except from this linguistics department.

[airthus]

I think the biggest difference is the food. I have eaten Chinese food in china (obviously) and Chinese food in several other countries and each one is completely different. They dont look, taste or even use the same ingredients!