Britain's Chinese Tiger Mums!

No messing now, do your homework! Picture from swethalathareddy

A very Happy New Year to you all!!!

There was a very interesting programme on BBC2 today 'Meet Britain's Chinese Tiger Mums'.  The programme documents the lives of several Chinese mothers in the UK and how they bring up their young children.  Its all about work and little play; its all about discipline too.  Each mother believes in the mantra that where there is no pain there is no gain - education leads to a better life and in order to have a good, stable future their children have to exceed in their studies.  I am not surprised to see one mother having a timetable of study each day for her young son and another pushing her child to excel on the piano.

Is this wrong?  One only has to read about Amy Chua, the Yale Law professor and self-described "Tiger mother" to be instantly in the opinion that this method of parenting is cruel and senseless.   When I was young I found it very tough - but it was understood.  In order to have security in life you have to work hard, and since having a good education is the key to all this, you have to study hard - what is illogical about that?  Having said that, it wasn't just me doing all the work; Mum was working hard too! She even went back to college so that she could teach what she learnt to me. 

As I look back I don't think that I missed out on anything when I was a child. TV? There are re-runs to this day. Social skills? I, and I am sure everyone, is still having to learn these through every new person that they meet in their lives.  And having a life? I'm living it right now!

While watching that programme I realised that the major lesson during that tough period of our lives is still with me: that although it is hard you must never stop working and you must never stop learning.  Also you must always look for opportunities and grab them with both hands.  The world is changing all the time and life is getting tougher.  To compete and survive you have to be willing to sacrifice some freedoms and be disciplined in order to gain what you want.  Reality is tough, so it pays to have that lesson of tough love early on.

Thanks Mum! x       

PS  - My Mum says that she likes to snack on small children.  Haha.

Source: Wonderland: Meet Britain's Chinese Tiger Mums 

See also:  Times magazine: Amy Chua



 

China, a nation of stone cold hearts

I recently read an article in The Guardian relating to the terrible incident in Foshan: How can I be proud of my China if we are a nation of 1.4 bn cold hearts?.  As recorded by CCTV camera, a total of 18 people walked by as Yue Yue, a two year old toddler, lay dying in the middle of the road.  She had been hit by a truck and could be seen still alive, writhing in agony. And yet, yards away from their feet, her presence and distress did not even seem to register as these 18 people went about their own business.  Seven minutes later a second vehicle ran over Yue Yue, crushing her to death.

The footage of this incident has since gone viral and has made national and international headlines.  Grief, outrage and condemnation has been expressed by netizens all over the world and protests and vigils were held all over China in honour of Yue Yue's short life.  But there is no denying the fact that this incident graphically exposes a terrible side to Chinese society; its moral fabric rotten to the core.  For what happened on that day, although shocking and tragic, is just one incident of many.  The author, Lijia Zhang, does not hold back.  She defines with pin point accuracy the short comings and problems that engulf Chinese mentality.  She is observant of the spiritual vacuum left behind now that the ideology of communism has been displaced.  A new and frighteningly dark China is now fast emerging where morality, tradition and principle have been cast aside in favour for greed, selfishness and indifference.   

After reading this article, I felt so sad - and embarrassed and angry.  Here the British press like to run with the theme of a "Broken Britain" - a reference to the failings of British society -  but I can honestly say that if a similar situation to Yue Yue's occurred on any street here, there would have been no hesitation whatsoever.  If there were 18 people present at this scenario, 18 people would have rushed over to help or at least would have done something.  It is innate, it is inbuilt in the culture.  It is unthinkable to do anything else!         

"We Chinese have every reason to feel proud about what we've achieved. Now we demand respect. But how can we possibly win respect and play the role of a world leader if this is a nation with 1.4 billion cold hearts?" That is a good question.  Lijia Zhang refers to the existence of a law in parts of Europe in which its citizens must come to the aid of another in distress.  This could only be a good thing.  But such behaviours should not require a law - as people in general, all over the world have the natural capacity to care and look out for one another.  It should not need this, or the tragic death of a child caught on CCTV to convince us to act like decent human beings.   

Source: The Guardian

Also see: 

Lijia Zhang                


                            


    

Northampton murders

Police in Northampton UK are still searching for Anxiang Du, the main suspect in the brutal murder of an entire Chinese family in Northampton, UK.

Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen and their two daughters Xing and Alice

The suspect Anxiang Du, seen at Northampton station on April 29th

Another picture of Anxiang Du

Dr. Jifeng Ding, his wife and their two teenage daughters were found at their home on May 1st of this year. Post mortem analysis found that all four had been stabbed to death. According to the BBC, police have released new CCTV footage of Anxiang Du on April 29th at Coventry railway station on 10.00 am, Birmingham New Street station at 10.50 am and at Northampton bus station at 12.50 pm. Since then he has gone missing. A Vauxhall Corsa that the family had rented and had gone missing after the murder has since been found on Venables street in North London.  The investigation is now focused there.

It is reported that Anxiang Du, a business man, recently lost a court case against the Dings on their joint herbal remedy business.  The police think that despite what appears to be a  suicide note left to his family Du is still alive and is on the run with a large amount of cash.  It is also possible that he has already left the country.  There is now a reward of £10,000 for information that will lead to his capture.

Dr. Jifeng Ding was reported to be a well respected lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, his two daughters Xing and Alice were talented, popular and had bright futures ahead of them.  If anyone has any information on his whereabouts please contact Crimestoppers UK on +0044 (0) 800 555 111.



Source: BBC News Northampton

Doctored photo draws international attention and amusement!

 Somewhere in South West China three officials are inspecting a road - or are coming out of the road - or are floating above the road - it depends on how you look at it really! This terribly altered photograph of these three men supposedly inspecting a new road in Sichuan province is now a global sensation.  It is already being nominated as one of the worst doctored images in history, so-much-so that jokers are already trying their hands at placing the three men in other important places!

The new intergalactic highway is finished at last! A bit dusty though...

 With a little drainage a road could be built here.

Get up! We've got planning permission you know! 

This road is not complete! AND its got a huge bump in it!! This is a total disaster!!!

Traffic-slowing measures are of a huge importance to public safety.  Let us inspect closely...

But with all this great artistry what I really want to know is - what is the original photograph where these three guys were taken and added into the road? Anybody know this??
 

I am sure that the truth will be stranger than the fiction!

 Source: EastSouthWestNorth

Insulting yourself

I was a follower of a certain BBC celebrity on Twitter.  Recently, or at least from when I had started to follow them, they had been using the word "chink" or "chinky" to describe themselves in their tweets.  The first time I saw this I was taken aback; to my knowledge the word "chink" is a racially abusive term for us Chinese.  Now here is a well known British Chinese individual, who themselves have been subject to discrimination, labelling themselves with the same word!

It is known that some people in other ethnic groups use racist words to address one another to communicate comradeship and affection, but it does not appear to me that the celebrity is using these words in this way; it is as if they are trying to making an outward statement, publicising their heritage in an audacious manner that also smacks of indifference and avengment.  To brand yourself with the words of your antagoniser, is this not an admission of inferiority? A proud, bold display to everyone that you, and others like you, deserve to be discriminated against and that your antagonisers are justified in their actions?

I'm not sure how many other BBCs refer to themselves in this way, but if one is indeed proud of ones heritage, shouldn't one refer to oneself with a little more dignity?  In my opinion, to do otherwise is not only self-defeating and letting your antagonisers gain the upper hand; it also harms and brings down an entire population, many of whom wish to live their lives harmoniously in this multicultural society that is the UK.

 

Sweet potato dessert (蕃薯糖水)

A most favourite dessert that we have after dinner (way after dinner!) is sweet potato served in sugar water (蕃薯糖水 fan sui tong suy).  This is usually consumed in the evenings as it is believed that having a sugary, watery snack before bed is good for the throat and lungs in that they are not so dry (this is based on the hot weather in Asia).  This is a simple, lovely, healthy snack that is high in fibre and is suitable for vegetarians.

To make this for four people you will need:

A couple of slices of ginger

One or two sweet potatoes, skinned and chopped into chunks

a stick of cane sugar

Heat up three tablespoons of oil and fry the slices of ginger for two minutes.

 Add the chunks of sweet potato and fry these well for 5-10 minutes.

Add a water, enough to cover the sweet potato.  Break up a stick of cane sugar and add this in.  Cover and cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.  Stir every now and then.

 Serve into bowls and enjoy!

Thank goodness for weekends! ;)

 

Dragon Boat Festival

June the 6th is the Dragon Boat Festival ( 端午節 Tuen Ng Jit). This is a day that is observed and celebrated in many parts of East Asia, and in the Motherland it is a public holiday.  Like other traditional festivals, the Dragon Boat Festival follows the lunar calendar (the fifth day of the fifth month) and therefore in the Gregorian calender it changes from year to year.  In the UK the Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrated on many a river.  The competition takes the form of charity races, racing associations and corporate events.  All in all it promotes team work and community and is a fun day out for all the family.

The festival is thought to originate from a folk story based on the Chinese scholar, poet and minister Qu Yuan   (屈原) who lived during China's warring states period.  As a loyal adviser to the King and his state, he was a champion of peace, truth and justice.  However the King, under the influence of jealous and corrupt ministers, banished him from the court.  Not long after, the state was attacked and the King was captured.  Qu Yuan, upon hearing of the demise of his country and the King's fate, was overcome by sorrow and despair.  He then threw himself in the Miluo river.

 Qu Yuan (屈原)

It is said that the ordinary citizens, who knew and respected the good minister, rushed out to rescue him.  Unable to find him in the water, they resorted to throwing packages of rice into the river and beating drums in an attempt to scare away the fish so that they would leave Qu Yuan's body alone.  To this day, this tradition is repeated to commemorate Qu Yuan's death: the rice packages are now known as zongzi  (粽子) which are rice dumplings consisting of glutinous rice with various fillings that are wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.  The boats are now long boats, decorated with the head and tail of a dragon and are raced with a drummer on board.

  Zongzi (粽子) with meat filling

Dragon Boat race