Prof. Oxfeld's "Blood, Sweat and Mahjong" book.

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

Hi everyone,
Prof. Oxfeld has written a very interesting book, her anthropological
fieldwork based in Calcutta, India, in the 1980s deals with the study of
the Chinese and how they fit into the larger community of Bengalis, Hindus,
and other Indian ethnic groups.

You will learn that the Hakkas are larger in number compared to the
Hubeinese and Cantonese. The work the Chinese do is defined by their ethnic
origin, and their family ties. Chinese migrated from China to Dhapa, Tangra
and Calcutta and settled in their new environment hoping for a better life,
but in reality experienced serious hardship, pain, isolation, suffering and
discrimination. Despite all the difficulties they faced, they worked and
saved and many migrated to Canada and other parts of the world.

One interesting part I liked in Professor Oxfeld's book, was the Chinese
custom of the dowry(gift giving), whereby, the woman must take some money
and gifts in suitcases to her intended husband's home. I remember in one
website Clem had told us about, the Hakka woman is supposed to put plants
in the husband's backyard to indicate that she plans to stay forever with
the man she marries. I really like the idea of the woman taking gifts to
her new home. Unfortunately I didn't bring gold nuggets from Fort Knox in
suitcases to my husband's home, and this could have disappointed my in-laws
who were born in China and accustomed to dowries.
Henrietta.