Topic of the day: JOY LUCK CLUB
now,i'm gonna talk about the things i have learnt from reading this book.though it's just my lit text. this book is about chinese mothers and american-ised daughters. which then also brings us into the world where chinese and american cultures clash. chinese traditions,superstitions,behavior are probably the things that we are most familiar with.afterall,we're all chinese.well,at least,i am. so if we're all chinese,how are we going to understand how the americans think or behave?well,it has actually been in us all these while.don't get it?read on.
first signs of us being american-ised,we are writing or speaking in fluent english and most of us actually use english most of the time when we need to converse.secondly, as seen in the book, the daughters,being so influnced by the american way of life, are proven to not listen to their mothers nor heed their warnings. and how many of us actually listen to our mothers and not just take it that they're weirdos speaking in some alienated language?we don't really listen to them,do we?i don't.
so the very first vignette of the book illustrates, how a chinese mother took much pains to come to america,in hopes of a better life,all the way from china.and the swan(which the seller claimed was "a duck that stretched its neck in hopes of becoming a goose")that this mother brought from china was taken away from her when she had reached america, leaving her with "only one feather for a memory". and this chinese mother had waited and waited for the day that she could pass the feather to her daughter "who grew up speaking only english and swallowing more coca-cola than sorrow", to tell her daughter of her good intentions that came with that single feather. and that chinese mother also had to wait for the day where she could tell her daughter her good intentions, in perfect english.
and with this starting vignette, we would read stories about how the chinese mothers suffered, how strong they can be, and how hard they tried to not let their daughters walk the horrible path they had walked. we would also see how their daughters would lose themselves, as a result of not listening to their mothers and how they would,at a point of their lives, realise what their mothers had said were actually words of wisdom.
so,next time before you start thinking that your mum is going against you in all sorts of means and ways, or that her naggings are just sentences that are too long for comfort, take a deep breath and listen to her, listen to what she has to say then discuss about that issue altogether. and if all things don't work, try to find a chance to watch your mother take an afternoon nap,and by then, you would realise all that she has done for you, and that your mother has never complained about how tough it was to clear up after you,to do all those housechores when you were out with your friends. and like the vignette from the first page of JLC, our mothers are just waiting for that day when they can tell us about all their good intentions with all the right words.so meanwhile,bear with her nagging,she means well=)
P.S.: mothers would appreciate it alot if you do something for her once in awhile.so go cook a meal for her!!but,make sure it tastes good.ha!
we live two different lives,we have different mindsets,but i believe that one day, you would let me into your world.not just for a few months then shut me out.but rather,for good.i wanna make you smile and laugh from inside out,no fakes for me my dear.trust me,i'm determined.=)signed,sealed,delivered.
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