Category Archives: Latest Stories

Chanukah Song, Who?

PatternSquare08When my son was in grade 1, the teacher asked if the Jewish children in the class would like to sing a Chanukah song at the upcoming seasonal party. They enthusiastically agreed, including my son. When my son reported this to me, I asked him who in the class was Jewish. He mentioned his good buddy: blue-eyed, blonde Mark with-the-very-Scottish-surname. I thought that was very cute – Mark pretending to be Jewish, likely in order to hang with his buddy, my son.

When I bumped into Mark’s mother I told her that we had a good laugh at home at the thought of Mark singing a Chanukah song. She looked at me blankly and then started to laugh. She explained that they’d had the same conversation at their house when Mark came home and reported that my blue-eyed, blonde son with-the-very-WASP-surname had volunteered to sing the Chanukah song. As it happens, both boys are Jewish by virtue of their Jewish moms. Oy!

- Deborah in Toronto

Family Timelines: A Daughter Reflects on Being Biracial

PatternSquare06I was born in Vancouver in 1960. My great-grandfather, a Christian missionary, came here from China to minister to the Chinese that were building the CN railway. When my father (Chinese) fell in love with my mother (Dutch-Irish) and wanted to marry her, his family opposed it. My mother’s family was not keen on the idea either — they hesitantly gave their approval but that was only because she was pregnant. They never did marry because interracial marriages, in those days, were just not acceptable. Both of my parents have terrible memories of how they were treated in those days. Continue reading →

Holiday Lessons

PatternSquare06Chinese New Year is a big event in Vancouver, with people getting into the spirit regardless of heritage. During this year’s celebrations in February, it came up as a topic of conversation in our house. I asked my seven-year-old son which of his friends’ families were celebrating New Year’s. He looked at me blankly. I mentioned a name and this time he looked at me as though I ought to know better. He explained his friend was Korean, not Chinese.  Point taken. Ok, but wait a minute I said – our neighbours are Korean and hadn’t they been celebrating? Continue reading →

Fresh bread and new perspective

MC40_AfghanBreadI grew up in Vancouver but feel like I’ve explored new depths to this city having just recently met refugee women who call it their new home. Their perspectives shed new light for me on what it means to live in a multiethnic, multicultural community, one that welcomes people from diverse parts of the globe but doesn’t always know how to help them feel like they belong. I recently met a dozen women who came to Metro Vancouver fleeing violence and persecution back home. Continue reading →

Now that I’m interested, what’s my name?

MC40_spring_festival_coupletsMy daughter and I moved to Canada in July 2011, and since then, I have been flat out working on my MA in Intercultural Communications, looking for work and starting a consulting business. My 8-year-old daughter is happily enrolled in a great public school a few blocks away that has a wonderful ‘learn through the arts’ program. Unfortunately, I have not had enough time to volunteer or get to know her class mates that much.

However, during Chinese New Year of 2013, I was able to take a few hours one morning to volunteer my time and share with my daughter’s classmates and teacher. Continue reading →

What’s In A Cloud?

MC40_CloudsRecently, a friend, a Chinese Canadian living in Canada over 10 years, drove me along the way from the downtown Victoria to Colwood at the sunset. A glance of the clouds ahead led me to take one snapshot of cloud picture with my mobile.  The clouds in the early evening are in Chinese ink art.  This time they made an “inky” painting in a night color, reminding me of Chinese art inspiration and beauty:  a freehanded piece full of imaginary images: mountains afar, trees, figures, flowers or various animals … with some huge blank spaces here or there that any stories of yours can tell.         – Laura in Victoria

Not Too Direct, Eh?

Orange Maple LeafOriginally I am from Salzburg, Austria. Since I have lived abroad for the last few years I am used to interacting with different ethnic groups.

What I am not used to though is that most people seem very friendly and I am certain there are a lot that are. But what I am missing is honesty. If there is something someone doesn’t like then just say it, there is nothing bad about that. But even at work when I have to write an email I am not allowed to just say no. They tell me to sugar coat it and not say it direct!!!

That is something that is very hard for me because I am used to saying it direct.  That is the biggest difference for me between the Canadian culture and my culture.

- Kathi in Vancouver

Original submission in German

Ich komme urspruenglich aus Salzburg, Oesterreich. Da ich schon einige Jahre im Ausland lebe bin ich es gewohnt mit verschiedenen ethnischen Gruppen zusammenzuleben. Continue reading →

A Snapshot of Three Generations

MC40_wong_kidsMy dad was born and raised in Jamaica. He came to Vancouver as a student and there he met my mom, a girl from Oakville, Ontario whose parents had emigrated from Scotland and who was also a student. One thing led to another and, as they completed their studies they planned their wedding. I still cannot fathom that mom’s parents refused to attend her wedding because she was marrying this dark skinned guy. Continue reading →