Being Canadian-Chinese...?

Question

If I was born in China and grew up for almost my entire life in Canada and have Caucasian parents, but still have a family in China, then does that mean I am not really Canadian-Chinese despite trying to learn about my roots?

Answer 1

i'm korean-chinese actually, but i've always perceived myself to be chinese, because i still have relatives living in china. though i'm supposed to be korean because my dad is korean.

i'd say you're chinese .your RACE is chinese, just that you were brought up in canada. it's the whole race-nationality mess up again. but there's nothing wrong with trying to recover your roots. in singapore where i live, my strongest language is english. but recently i've been taking lessons to brush up on my korean and chinese. absolutely nothing wrong.

listening to chinese music or watching chinese movies is always a good way to start. i started off listening to korean music too

Answer 2

It is your choice, but I mean being a Chinese yourself should be a leader of cultural exchange for more Canadian to understand more of China instead of misdirect by the media of negative news of China. There are many kids who are born in North America that don't recognize themselves as part of China because of what they see on tv. I think that is wrong because having another culture in your life means more opportunity for you to communicate with both culture and promote both cultures whether if you are on a job or promotion. I suggest you should keep training your Chinese speaking habit as you live in Canada where English is dominated and I'm not sure if you are proud of both cultures. I think you should recognize yourself as a Chinese as well because of China's growing influence in Canada especially in Vancouver and Toronto, and the society in China is improving and not what you see 20 years ago in China. I mean being a Chinese myself living in the U.S., I'm proud of being a Chinese because I can promote my culture to American where they have lack of knowledge of China and many of them hold a negative image on China

Answer 3

Hi, so your parents are canadians but you also have family in china?Are they also westerners?

Anyway, that's really up to you. There is no definite rule on what consitutes as being a Chinese. It is your choice.

P.S - if you were born in China, then you could probably live in China.  

Answer 4

I would consider you as Canadian-Chinese, there is nothing wrong with reconnecting with your roots

Answer 5

Well if you look Chinese, you are most definitely will be perceived as one, but it all really depends on yourself, or what you recognized yourself as. Some people believe that they are Chinese even though they don't look Chinese.

What I don't understand is, are you adopted into a Canadian family? or your real family cannot support you in China?  

Edit: In that case, it is amazing how hard you are trying to even rediscover your root, which is a good thing, many ABC (American born Chinese) simply ignores this fact.

I don't think Chinese School is a big help, I, myself hated Chinese School, it was completely waste of my time. I came to U.S. when I was 11, and I became westernized just as well, but I rediscovered the fun and culture when I entered into College. The best thing you can do right now is to start merge yourself into the culture, such as watching some Chinese movies, or listening to some Chinese music, making some friends who are Chinese or Taiwanese and see if you like the whole Chinese experiences at all. After that, you can maybe visit Taiwan in the future, learn some history , etc.  

Best of luck.

Answer 6

Tahts great that you are trying to get to know your roots. but honestly you are whie washed and its going to be hard to change..

Answer 7

You can be a Chinese. But few oversea Chinese choose to recover Chinese nationality.