Hakka Youth Panel/Open Forum

[Kelvin & Henri <kachie-hakit@account-pro.com>]

>Hi All!
>A topic that needs to be seriously considered at the forum, especially for
>the youth forum, is how to be bi-cultural.  They are not solely
>Hakka/Chinese, they are Hakka/Chinese plus something else.  It is the "plus
>something else" that is causing the identity issues.

Yes, Fiona, I agree that there are identity issues to deal with. Some
youths can be bi-cultural or multi-ethnic. You can be all Hakka, living in
Canada, and consider yourself Canadian first, then Hakka. Or you could see
yourself as being Hakka Chinese first then Canadian. Then, there are people
like me, who are mixed with a variety of cultural backgrounds - part Hakka,
part Chung Shan Cantonese, part Spanish, part Carib, Trinidadian, West
Indian, Canadian, so my ethnic identity is Chinese Trinidadian West Indian
Canadian, because I embrace all my ethnic roots and my country of birth.
Each individual, has to determine his/her own ethnic identity.


>When I was growing up in Perth you had 2 choices, you were either Chinese
>(reject/dag) or Australian.  There was no middle ground.  This middle ground
>is now available but no one knows what to do with it.  Parents who are first
>generation migrants cannot sympathise or empathise because they have their
>own settlement issues.

When I was growing up, you were either Chinese, African, East Indian, or
dougla(part Indian, part African).  The Chinese community is divided by
race, class and status in society. Who was rich, who wasn't, who you lived
with, what class you belonged to, who you socialized with, was important.

>We can no longer be isolated or insulate, nor would we be want to, there is
>a whole world out there to explore!  But the issue of having the ability to
>be comfortable, and not merely survive, in both cultures has be addressed
>because neither one is going to go away.

I really agree with you Fiona. I'll be very surprised if other youths in
Toronto would want to discuss these types of issues at the Toronto Hakka
conference(see http://www.members.home.net/hakka)
 
>Thank you for all of your interest in my research and for the ability to
>participate in your forums.  Yes I will be interested in presenting a paper
>at the conference and/or at the youth panel but as I have mentioned to
>Henrietta, it depends on the availability of scholarships to fund the travel
>expenses.  I am in process of scouring for scholarship information so if you
>get wind of any, I would truly appreciate you giving me a yell.
>Cheers
>
>Fiona
>

I really hope that you find a scholarship, Fiona. Your ideas and
suggestions are always welcomed.
Keep in touch.
Henrietta.