China Diary

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

NPR's All Things Considered is running a series called China Diary covering a variety of social, political, and economical issues. I recently listened to an interview with several young adults in China who grew up as an only child under the 1-child policy implemented in 1980. The small group of young men and women all agreed that they would like to have at least two children. They did not wish for a child of their own to grow up without a sibling like them.

Although I grew up as an only child, I realize that this is very different from having an entire generation grow up as the only child in their family. The interviewees explained the competitiveness in education and the pressure from family to excel. They receive a tremendous amount of love and attention from the adults in their lives, but all of them still would have preferred to have a brother or sister.

You can checkout the China Diary at http://www.npr.org/chinadiary or tune in to your local KPCC radio station.

Valerie

[Anonymous]

This is a very interesting interview; it would be good to incorporate this, as an activity, in the classroom and try to get some of the students' perspectives.

[Anonymous]

The LA Times (California/Local) today featured an article about the 70th anniversary of Chinatown. The story covered families with businesses in Central Plaza that are being maintained by children and grandchildren committed to continuing the legacy of their parents despite the business decline. Although they have professional careers, they value and respect the work of their parents; what it meant to them, and how it supported their own dreams. Many of them worked as children in the family business and value the lessons learned about discipline and hard work. Their parents stressed education, and they respect the fact that the family business financed their college education and home. Their stories remind me of my own parents and grandparents emphasis on education and hard work. This tradition continuing in the Chinese culture seems to be disappearing from American culture. I was touched by these stories which made me a bit nostalgic, and at the same time envious.

There is concern however about whether this current generation will continue the legacy. I am convinced that this concern about the current generation is one that is common in both cultures.

Valerie

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