Looking at Hannah's mom, (I called her aunt, in China, it is common to address those who are moms ayi=aunt) I felt like I was completely in a comfort zone for my whole life. Ayi and Mr. Zhang (Hannah's dad) are really hard-working Chinese. Their family immigrated here about eight years ago except Mr. Zhang came here first to work for some other Chinese restaurants for many years before he owned one. From them, I got to know more immigrant history than the raical and ethnic groups of sociology I studied in the summer. They are living examples.
Well, I already have Hannah's permission to write about her family. She said I should be a good reporter. :P Hope so.
Hannah's family is one of typical immigrants from China, espcailly from her hometown, Fuzhou, Fujian. There are tons of people from there in the Chinatown of New York City. They also spread out around little towns, just not as many as big cities. Fuzhou people usually run their own family restaurant. Kids from their family either go to school for higher education so that they can escape restaurant life forever after graduation or still work for restaurants.
Two years ago, I met a Chinese guy from Fuzhou in NYC. He didn't say very much English after being there seven years! He also dropped school because of some reasons I forgot. @.@ According to him, many kids immigrated from Fuzhou with their family don't go for more education. They are just under the fake-good-looking Chinatown. To be honese, the Chinatown in NYC is the worst one I have ever ever seen! Other than nasty street, people are keeping old old old old old habit instead of learning new things. I mean not following others blindly but they are worse than people from 1950s (about that time, i guess) in China.. humm..maybe 30s? Anyway, old! Fuzhou people who want to keep their old fashion stay at their own world. However, there are always exceptions, such as Hannah's family.
Hannah has been working for her family's restaurant for over six years. When I first knew her, it was almost 1.5 years ago. After I learned she came here seven years ago, the first question I asked her was where she visited in this country. Guess how many? None. Hannah became one of my very good Chinese friends after we have been hanging out for a long time in the past. I learned more about her. Why she said none? She doesn't have time, neither does her family. Their restaurant opens 7 seven days a week and closes after 9:30p.m. Basically, their life is in the restaurant. Hannah always goes back to restaurant to work after school.
Before I worked for them, I completely didn't know how her life was. In the summer, I asked her to hang out. She always said no. Couple times, I was a little upset about being rejected. I thought I was nice to ask. Now I know I was totally a brat. I didn't put myselt into her shoes at all. It is not easy to live in a foreign country. It is even harder to run a restaurant and keep family in this country. Sometimes, people think Chinese are rich. Try to think about this, they work 12 hours every single day. They do not have vacation, no, not even family vacation.
I just worked twice so far. Today, when I felt tired after almost 5 hours, I saw ayi still busy with this and that. She had worked since 9:30 this morning and didn't say anything tiring thing. Earning bread is difficult. Ayi and Mr.Zhang don't really speak much English except basic English. Ayi said, "If I know more English, I could talk to customers better and maybe we could make friends."
However, they are one of the sweetest families I have ever seen! They treat people very well, even new employers, such as me. Watching Mr. Zhang mopping the floor, I felt like I saw my dad. Both of them are hard worker, honest, and humble. They are quiet but they are influential. Ayi and Mr.Zhang always make me food before I take off. Who on earth will care about your meal when you are off work? But ayi and Mr.Zhang really do. My heart just got melted. I just can't stop saying thank you when they treat me like a realitive. Maybe they don't realize that, but I will never forget my first restaurant experience.
Both of them care about their two daughters' education. In China, well, in my generation, not many parents pay attention to their girls but boys. Ayi was surprised that my two older sister graduated from university. Because of our society, I totally understand why she was surprised. None of my relitives at my sisters' age graduate from college. Thanks to my parents who raise all of us and support us without any selfishness.
They are just very very simple, honest, and hard-working people, but I feel so proud of them and thank them.
To those who are simple but brighten others' day and warm them up, like sunrise.
(Sunrise from Grand Teton, Wyoming)
Wow Ava, that is an incredible story. Made me teary eyed! - trish
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