Re: American English, pop culture and other cultures

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

Dear Guanyi,
It's so nice to hear from you. Please join us at the asiawind forum
regularly, when you have time to read all these postings. Participation
from people all over the world is great, it's one way we can learn about
each other.

I'm looking for Scholars who have done recent research on Hakka culture and
language, would you know of any, or would you know which website I can get
relevant information, we're trying to invite them to the Toronto Hakka
conference. 

Everyone who can make it to the conference is welcomed to attend. 

More info about the conference:
The website for the Toronto Hakka conference is at:
http://www.members.home.net/hakka

The draft timetable for the Toronto Hakka conference is now available at:
http://www.members.home.net/hakka/timetable.htm

The registration form for the conference can be found at:
http://www.members.home.net/hakka/REGFORM.htm

The deadline for proposals for the conference is: JULY 30, 2000
Interested speakers, please submit a 250 word abstract to Dr Keith Lowe at
hakka@home.com for approval.

Sincerely,
Henrietta.


Dear Henrietta:

Thank you very much for your email.

I happened to find Hakka forum when I was trying to look for Han
Suyin’s 
books
two years ago, when I knew little of Hakka. My knowledge of history and 
ethnic
group is poor. I felt happy when I learned from Dr. Lee’s
introduction that
Hakka is a branch of Han nationality, just because I’m also one of
the Han.

To be honest, I had long been admiring Western culture in my school and
university times. Except for practicing calligraphy and listening to ghost
stories, I didn’t care much about Chinese culture. My first
impressing book
is a selected collection of Anderson and Greens’ fairy tales in both 
English
(in left pages) and Chinese (in right pages). It was my father’s
book for
practicing English. I thought the English was pinyin (or phonetic alphabet) 
and
wondered why I couldn’t recognize most of them. This book helped me to 
develop
a great interest in learning English. With the experience of learning and
practicing English, I had been thinking that western countries were better
than China.

I became interested in Chinese culture after I got a job and became an 
assistant
in the university where I was educated. I remember clearly that in my first
summer vocation, I read Tang poems from the famous book “Tang poems
300”.
Then I found not only beautiful verses but interesting histories and 
sceneries
also. I was living in Xi’an that time. You know Xi’an is the
ancient 
Changan,
the capital city of Tang dynasty. On fine days, I was able to see Nan Shan
(the  South mountain), which was often appeared in Tang poems.

I began to think and even doubt western culture about 10 years ago. I mean I
try to examine what things really are. I don't just follow blindly. I think 
the same for Chinese culture. "When in Rome, do as Romans do". I agree with 
you that we adopt or adapt to other cultures we face or confront. It is then 
really a big
problem to preserve our own features. Chinese culture is a huge topic to 
discuss.
I think Hakka forum is really a good practise! It's a good idea that people 
or
Hakka people can concentrate on those related with Hakka, or China, or the 
world,
if they have interests. I'm sure good results or conclusions obtained from 
Hakka forum will be beneficial to Chinese culture as a whole.

I really appreciate your efforts, and would like to contribute mine if I 
can.

Regards,

Guanyi

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