Ｍｙ Ｎｅｉｇｈｂｏｒ’ｓ Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎ Ｋｉｄｓ

Ｂｙ　ＺＨＯＵ　ＸＩ

EVERY time we had dinner, I felt awkward when my Chinese mom repeatedly asked me to eat more. My mom in America would never push me like that. Finally I couldnt tolerate it anymore, so I asked why she did that. She told me it was because she loved me and really looked upon me as her own child, and she worried about whether I felt hungry. From that point I understood that Chinese people had led a poor life in the past. What worries parents most is whether their children have enough food. Although their lives have dramatically improved, they are used to voicing the old concerns. I still dont feel easy with constant requests to eat, but when my Chinese mom tries to persuade me to eat more, I always thank her with a smile instead of feeling angry.”

This story comes from Tyler, an American youngster who once lived in my neighbors home. His Chinese mom is Wang Huirong, a retiree from Beijing Normal University.

As economic exchanges between the US and China become more frequent, an increasing number of American teenagers have become interested in Chinese culture, which seems very new and different to them. Chinese has gradually become a hot choice for American high school students studying a second language. Tylers father has a trade relationship with China stretching back to the beginning of reform and opening-up, which gave Tyler the opportunity to have access to China from a very young age.

In the 1990s the American teaching and study exchange organization SYA initiated cooperation with the No.2 High School affiliated to Beijing Normal University, allowing American high school students to study in China and enjoy a home stay. Tyler was among them. Initially the procedure for such programs was complicated, but things are now much easier, and more and more American students are coming to China.

This time Tyler came to Beijing to visit his Chinese mom, and I joined them for a chat.

“Only reform and opening-up has allowed us to have a lovely American teenager come and visit us frequently. I couldnt even imagine that in the past. Before we actively sought to avoid overseas relations. None of us could ever have imagined that one day we would live with foreigners as if we were from the same family. The changes to society over these years leave old people like me feeling dazzled. Sometimes I find it hard to keep up. Ordinary peoples lives are much more interesting now,” says Wang with deep feeling.

Tylers Chinese has improved a lot. When he first arrived at Wangs home he often watched the retiree as she spoke, but couldnt respond. Wang often felt anxious and asked for my help with translating. But now Tyler has no problem chatting with us in Chinese.

One of the happiest times for Wang was when Tylers family came to visit and spent Spring Festival at her home. Tyler wore a traditional Chinese suit, hand-made by his Chinese mom. He helped his American mom light fireworks, strolled around a temple fair, watched shadow plays and Peking opera, and ate dumplings. Tylers American mom said that she never imagined that ordinary Chinese peoples lives were so happy now. What is most unforgettable for Wang is that the Chinese Spring Festival has made a deep impression on her American sons mind. One year after the celebration she received an international phone call from Tyler. According to Chinese traditions, Tyler should call and kowtow to his Chinese mom every New Year.

While Wang was chatting with Tyler, Teniesha, an American girl, arrived home. She came to Beijing this year and is studying at No.2 High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University and lives in Wangs home, just as Tyler once did. Tyler proudly tells Teniesha about his experiences. When it is time to say goodbye, the American youngster feels reluctant to leave. Tyler says wherever he goes in the future he will always miss his Chinese mom.

Many schools in China are now qualified to enroll foreign students. As more foreign children enter Chinese families, there are also more and more transnational mothers.