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Overseas kids come to trace their roots
By Shi Xiaohan |
July 20, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than 30 overseas students of Chinese origin from North America and Europe joined a 21-day root-tracing summer camp in Hangzhou last week. The students, aged from 10 to 17, are learning about their motherland in classrooms, on excursions and most importantly in their daily lives.
Hosted by Hangzhou Overseas Chinese Service Center, the root-tracing summer camp has greeted more than 800 children of Chinese origin since its launch in 1999.
"Overseas Chinese have contributed immensely to the development of China, economically and socially. Therefore, to gain the support of overseas Chinese is important for us," said Chen Xiangming, director of Hangzhou Overseas Chinese Service Center. Last year, more than 6,000 young root tracers were invited to Beijing and were greeted by Xi Jinping, the vice president of China.
The first-generation Chinese immigrants do not want their children to become "banana men," referring to people with Chinese appearance but Western mind. "Most of the kids are sent by their parents because it is mainly their parents who have deep affection for their motherland," said Chen.
A major task of the summer camp is improving the participants' Chinese proficiency, as language is indispensable for a deeper understanding of a culture. The Chinese lessons are always a special experience for both the students and the teachers.
"Teaching overseas-born Chinese is a very interestingly different experience," said Jiang Lili, a Chinese teacher. "They are very active in class, always asking questions and looking for fun in learning, which makes it more challenging for me as well."
Most of the participants are good at listening and speaking in Chinese, but their reading and writing are less than practical. Therefore, Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Office has published special textbooks especially for them, focusing on reading and writing.
Another highlight of the special Mandarin textbook is Chinese culture and history, catering to the children's need to know more about their homeland.
"We went to the West Lake the other day, but I feel I cannot enjoy it as much as locals as I don't know about its historical and cultural value," said Zhong Yixuan, "so I am looking forward to learning about it in the coming classes."
When the students of Chinese origin from across the world gather together, Mandarin has become the language they use the most to communicate with each other. "I feel the need to use the Chinese I learned," said Ying Ruici, a Canadian Chinese, "as it is the only common language we share in the camp."
Regardless of their Mandarin proficiency, making friends is a priority in the summer camp for most of them. "Meeting with friends from different countries is so much fun as we can find a lot in common with each other with our same origin," said Zhong Yixuan from Italy.
"Talking with their new friends keeps these energetic kids up at night till very late," said Chen Li, a program coordinator. "Sometimes we even need to knock on their doors and urge them to go to bed."
Various activities such as martial arts, paper-cutting, calligraphy and Chinese musical instrument classes are organized in the afternoon for these energetic youngsters.
To let the children experience what they learned from their textbook, their itinerary also includes visits to museums, historical buildings and scenic spots. A special "becoming a Hangzhou citizen" day is arranged in the middle of the program to let the children spend a day with a local family and experience living like a common Hangzhou resident.
But learning about the real China is not always as fun as reading books, travelling and working out as the program is supposed to be.
Sometimes, the children have a harder time adapting to their circumstances in daily life than they or their parents had imagined.
All the children are arranged to live in college dormitories where each of them has to live in a 20-square-meter room with three others. "College dormitories today have air-conditioners and an independent bathroom, way better than where we lived," said a parent. But for their children, it is not necessarily true.
"We cannot sleep since the beds are too hard and the air-conditioner doesn't cool the room down enough," said Wang Li, a Russian Chinese.
However, the organizers have been trying to make the place comfortable enough for the children. They have arranged extra cushions to put under the beds and asked the college canteen to cook special meals for the camp's young guests.
"The parents did not send their kids to a luxurious getaway in China," said coordinator Chen. "They want their kids to know what China is like in reality and toughen up for it, so they will not feel distant from their homeland."
Hosted by Hangzhou Overseas Chinese Service Center, the root-tracing summer camp has greeted more than 800 children of Chinese origin since its launch in 1999.
"Overseas Chinese have contributed immensely to the development of China, economically and socially. Therefore, to gain the support of overseas Chinese is important for us," said Chen Xiangming, director of Hangzhou Overseas Chinese Service Center. Last year, more than 6,000 young root tracers were invited to Beijing and were greeted by Xi Jinping, the vice president of China.
The first-generation Chinese immigrants do not want their children to become "banana men," referring to people with Chinese appearance but Western mind. "Most of the kids are sent by their parents because it is mainly their parents who have deep affection for their motherland," said Chen.
A major task of the summer camp is improving the participants' Chinese proficiency, as language is indispensable for a deeper understanding of a culture. The Chinese lessons are always a special experience for both the students and the teachers.
"Teaching overseas-born Chinese is a very interestingly different experience," said Jiang Lili, a Chinese teacher. "They are very active in class, always asking questions and looking for fun in learning, which makes it more challenging for me as well."
Most of the participants are good at listening and speaking in Chinese, but their reading and writing are less than practical. Therefore, Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Office has published special textbooks especially for them, focusing on reading and writing.
Another highlight of the special Mandarin textbook is Chinese culture and history, catering to the children's need to know more about their homeland.
"We went to the West Lake the other day, but I feel I cannot enjoy it as much as locals as I don't know about its historical and cultural value," said Zhong Yixuan, "so I am looking forward to learning about it in the coming classes."
When the students of Chinese origin from across the world gather together, Mandarin has become the language they use the most to communicate with each other. "I feel the need to use the Chinese I learned," said Ying Ruici, a Canadian Chinese, "as it is the only common language we share in the camp."
Regardless of their Mandarin proficiency, making friends is a priority in the summer camp for most of them. "Meeting with friends from different countries is so much fun as we can find a lot in common with each other with our same origin," said Zhong Yixuan from Italy.
"Talking with their new friends keeps these energetic kids up at night till very late," said Chen Li, a program coordinator. "Sometimes we even need to knock on their doors and urge them to go to bed."
Various activities such as martial arts, paper-cutting, calligraphy and Chinese musical instrument classes are organized in the afternoon for these energetic youngsters.
To let the children experience what they learned from their textbook, their itinerary also includes visits to museums, historical buildings and scenic spots. A special "becoming a Hangzhou citizen" day is arranged in the middle of the program to let the children spend a day with a local family and experience living like a common Hangzhou resident.
But learning about the real China is not always as fun as reading books, travelling and working out as the program is supposed to be.
Sometimes, the children have a harder time adapting to their circumstances in daily life than they or their parents had imagined.
All the children are arranged to live in college dormitories where each of them has to live in a 20-square-meter room with three others. "College dormitories today have air-conditioners and an independent bathroom, way better than where we lived," said a parent. But for their children, it is not necessarily true.
"We cannot sleep since the beds are too hard and the air-conditioner doesn't cool the room down enough," said Wang Li, a Russian Chinese.
However, the organizers have been trying to make the place comfortable enough for the children. They have arranged extra cushions to put under the beds and asked the college canteen to cook special meals for the camp's young guests.
"The parents did not send their kids to a luxurious getaway in China," said coordinator Chen. "They want their kids to know what China is like in reality and toughen up for it, so they will not feel distant from their homeland."
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