RSS FeedLast Saturday, as usual, my alarm clocks started to ring from 6am. By 8am, I finally crawled out of bed. Thus, I must take a taxi to work. So, I hopped onto one, and said cheerfully: “Hello! Good morning! Going to Nanyang Girls’ High School at Linden Drive, by Marymount, Lornie, P.I.E. Eng Neo.”
After 10 min, the taxi uncle suddenly popped this question: “你是华人吗 (Are you a Chinese)?” I was stunned. For the first time of my life, I had to face this question. Usually people will ask if I came from China, which will make me rather...... I am definitely a Singaporean and want to remain a Singaporean. I paused a while before answering him: “我是 (I am)。”
Why? Since young, I know that I am ‘yellow’ and will turn ‘brown’ easily. Even if, I manage to keep myself away from the sun long enough, I will not be any fairer, and my skin will change to pale greenish yellow. But, right now it seems very ‘yellowish’ to me. My mother speculated that it was my rather Indian-ish bangle watch. My students said that because I never spoke to him in Mandarin. But, how to??? Our roads are all named in English. One of my very cute primary school students suggested: “Uncle 早安! 去南洋女中, 林顿开车, 走骂你猫, ......”
After 10 min, the taxi uncle suddenly popped this question: “你是华人吗 (Are you a Chinese)?” I was stunned. For the first time of my life, I had to face this question. Usually people will ask if I came from China, which will make me rather...... I am definitely a Singaporean and want to remain a Singaporean. I paused a while before answering him: “我是 (I am)。”
Why? Since young, I know that I am ‘yellow’ and will turn ‘brown’ easily. Even if, I manage to keep myself away from the sun long enough, I will not be any fairer, and my skin will change to pale greenish yellow. But, right now it seems very ‘yellowish’ to me. My mother speculated that it was my rather Indian-ish bangle watch. My students said that because I never spoke to him in Mandarin. But, how to??? Our roads are all named in English. One of my very cute primary school students suggested: “Uncle 早安! 去南洋女中, 林顿开车, 走骂你猫, ......”
Whenever people ask me what dialect group do I belong to, I will answer: “Mandarin (华语人).” This is because I could neither speak nor understand my parents’ dialect (Teo Chew), and it does not bother me. Actually all dialects are like music to my ears. But, I am very troubled by this taxi uncle’s remark. My IC reflected that I am a Chinese. My genes showed that I am supposed to be a Chinese. Other than that, what makes me a Chinese? What am I supposed to do to become one? Speak Mandarin? Wear my very China costume?
The worst thing is that, I don’t know if I am upset to be mistaken or its implications that I am not a Chinese? Is being a Chinese so important to me?
If, I not a Chinese, what am I? Malay? Indian? Alien?
