Chinese lessons
By Ivy Tseng
The author of the story 'chinese lessons' presents a unique and revealing view of her child hood and her difficulties and desires.
This short story of the authors childhood reflects her frustration and urge to change the way she lived. The author is faced with terrible difficulty since moving to Australia, every Saturday morning she has to take chinese lessons. Whilst trying to accomplish the understanding of chinese history to keep up the family tradition through her fathers side, she barely has any comprehension of the English language and struggles to find room to learn that aswell: " I couldn't understand why I had to learn chinese when everyone around us seemed to speak, think, dream and do in English."
The authors desire to fit comfortably in society like other Australian people around her is constantly repeated throughout her story.The commitments she is faced with only increases her passion to live and speak like other English people." while i was supposed to be committing to memory the intricate characters and sounds for words such as "snow" and "blood", I'de be staring out the kitchen window, looking the the gum trees swaying over the tiled rooftops, wishing I was whit or Aussie and doing little athletics or watching tv....... I fantasised about having parents who spoke perfect English.."
This story is important because of the unique perspective of Australians and how much some Chinese people appreciate our lifestyle and the desire live the same way. This story points out the how we take our easier lifestyle for granted.
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