I've mastered the world of chopsticks.
I am of Chinese decent as my ancestors came from China.
But I grew up Filipino and Spanish almost forgetting my Chinese roots.
Months ago, when I visited my Lola Fe (Grandma Fe) in Santa Barbara, she reminded me that I hailed from my Chinese ancestors of Sy, So and Tan.
And that my great grandfather were so Chinese that is why I can not be denied with my chinky eyes who are proud Hookien descendants in China.
But I think I learned to be more Chinese because of someone else.
You see, I adopted more to my Spanish heritage hearing my grandparents spoke Spanish growing up.
I see my Maternal and Paternal grannies and I could not be denied of my Asian roots.
But I was raised more Spanish and Filipino than even being Chinese or Japanese.
It sucks that I am more Chinese now because I was influence by someone else in my past.
And my son who is half-Chinese Vietnamese made me realize the importance of recognizing my own roots.
I will never be too Chinesey enough.
I can eat chopsticks well now because I forced my self to relearn it because of that someone in my past.
I never admitted it but what he doesn't know is that I understood some of the Chinese language they spoke about behind my back.
I never claimed but he didn't know that I was a black belter in Karate and  Wi-Shu growing up.
I never talked about it but I spent endless memories and I spent a huge portion of my childhood eating eating xiumai, Cha si bao.
And that I am so great at using the Chinese abacus than any calculator because that's what my grannies taught me.
I will never be Chinese enough.
I will never be Chinese as they are.
But what sets me apart?
I am Chinese.
It ran in my veins.
I ate with Chopsticks too like they did.
But I'm proud to be Chinese now because I have a son whom I passed on my blood to,
I may never be able to teach Him what being Chinese is all about.
But we get to share that together.
We wille as Chinese as we can .
We can not deny.
It is us.
It is me.
It is even more of him.

posted by pinay freestyle @ 10:15 PM

---