By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: What problems do my young'ns have ahead of them?
Been here 8 years, got a son of 13 months and another on the way. The boy's a pain in the arse but a loveable rogue. Smart as a whip too: last night he said to me "I lied Idle Ade'll load a load o'ladels" which I think you'll agree shows a prodigious intelligence. I know nothing of this 'Idle Ade' he speaks of, nor of the load o'ladels Idle Ade'll load, but am warmed by his honesty and wish him well in his business endeavors with Idle Ade. My only concern is what a future in China, as a mixed race child, will offer him. So far it looks good. Fortunately he's white, the ignorance towards blacks in this country makes me want to vomit, but how will things change as the honeymoon period between China and the western world turns into just another regular old marriage. Marriage ain't no easy thing. Like life with the wife after she's been a week without shaving her legs.........things can get pretty hairy.
So what'll a future in China afford a Chinese born westerner?
Kids in schools any where tease and bully. Your kids will stick out. China is a country that tolerates discrimination. You will have to raise them so they realize they might be teased and support them by ensuring them that they are equal to anyone, no worse, no better and just to shrug it off. The truth is, they will have advantages the other kids will not, but ingraining this idea might start some fights if your kids want to use it as amo. Start your kids in kungfu classes early.
Agree with the above, I would add you get them the citizenship of your own country as well, It will be a plan B for them in the future. If things don't work out well for them in China, they will have the option of sailing the Atlantic ocean and heading back to the west.
I think, if you intend to stay here to adulthood, (theirs not yours), their biggest problem will be identity; will they feel British (why would they if they've lived their entire lives in China), but Britain will be an 'alien' land and probably culture, to them, or will they feel 'Chinese'? If the latter unless things change they will never be accepted by their peers as being Chinese. Also of course China doesn't accept dual nationality, so when they reach adulthood, will they be able to find a way to reside in China (if that's what they want), or will they have to live in Britain which, as I said, will be a 'foreign' culture to them.
