We ask Sydney: Are you Asian Australian? (Early Gen Y)
August 16th, 2010 |
Published in
Your Voice | 8 intelligent opinions |
Following from We ask Sydney: Are you Asian Australian? (Late Gen Y), I continue my survey of Gen Y Asian Australians this time with the upperclassmen themselves, Early Gen Y, on their thoughts and experiences as Asian Australians.
Wait mate!
If you’re new to this article series, We ask Sydney: Are you Asian Australian? (Late Gen Y) is a must-read before moving on to this article.
The observed trends in Gen Y vs Gen Z responses, their identification styles and the associated effects of these styles are discussed. Also see We ask Sydney: Are you Asian Australian? (Gen Z).
Early Gen Y (~ 1982-1987)^
^ If not indicated, all respondents are Australian-born.
What do you identify as when you’re asked ‘What are you?’
Amy Yong 28 (Chinese Australian, Maroubra, B Commerce and Fashion Design diploma graduate)Australian-born Chinese.
Salmin 22 (Indo-Fijian Australian born in Fiji and came to Australia at age 16, Bankstown, Financial analyst)Australian. Born in Fiji.
Nicholas (Chinese-Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 13, Maroubra, UNSW graduate)I have always grown up comfortably with the idea of admitting I am an Australian over I am an Indonesian. The horrid events that I experienced in Jakarta, Indonesia over 12 years ago was a huge cause of it. I was ashamed of my country, ashamed of my fellow Indonesian and seemingly would had a detrimental impact on me. But time progressed, so does the way my mind developed. They became more forgiving, more understanding and became more rational to the whole situation of the past… I would be proud to say I am ‘Indonesian’ and an ‘Australian’.
Duy Nguyen 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 6, Yagoona, Events manager) Vietnamese.
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)They obviously know I’m Asian so I say ‘can you guess?’ or I’m Vietnamese, what are you?
Nam Phan 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 4, Yagoona, UTS Civil Engineering student and DJ) I’m Viet.
Charlene 26 (Chinese Australian born in Singapore and came to Australia at age 19, Maroubra, B Media and Communications graduate)Singaporean living in Australia for the last 7 years.
Jenny 25 (Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 19, Hurstville, USyd graduate)[I tell] them… exactly [where] I come from and my race.
What does it mean to be Asian Australian?
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)Being an Asian Australian means that I am not 100% Asian or 100% Australian. It means I am an Asian brought up in Australia but will never be classified as 100% Australian.
Nicholas 24 (Chinese-Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 13, Maroubra, UNSW graduate)To be Asian Australian to me is to accept the cross-culture clashes. To uphold values and wisdom from our cultur[al] heritages, such as the teachings of the great ‘Confucius’ and to obtain values within the Western culture that [are] advantageous to my life.
Amy Yong 28 (Chinese Australian, Maroubra, B Commerce and Fashion Design diploma graduate)We get the best of both worlds!
Salmin 22 (Indo-Fijian Australian born in Fiji and came to Australia at age 16, Bankstown, Financial analyst)Being an Asian Australian means that you share the same goals and interests of all Australians, but you maintain the traditions and values that you were taught growing up. For example, we enjoy the same barbeques as our neighbours but our meat comes from a Halal butcher.
Kartika 24 (Indonesian-Chinese Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 16, Mascot, Curtin Uni B Commerce graduate working at Rabobank)I think Asian Australians [are] very lucky, especially in terms of culture and language, they will have the diversity as they still inherit the [traditions] of an Asian while being brought up in [a] Western-style country.
Charlene 26 (Chinese Australian born in Singapore and came to Australia at age 19, Maroubra, B Media and Communications graduate)Just like everyone else.
Michael Trinh 28 (Chinese-Vietnamese Australian, Bankstown, Architecture – Building designer)It’s alright.
Is being Asian Australian different from being ‘Australian’?
Salmin 22 (Indo-Fijian Australian born in Fiji and came to Australia at age 16, Bankstown, Financial analyst)What’s Australian? Our current PM was born in Wales. The previous one spoke fluent Mandarin. I went to a public school that was 95% Asian. During my time as a reservist the unit was a medley of Muslims, Jews, Atheists and Christians. What you learn is that being Australian is a fluid concept if you look at backgrounds. What is constant about being Australian is your attitude to life and the people you live with.
Michael Trinh 28 (Chinese-Vietnamese Australian, Bankstown, Architecture and building designer)Same shit! I’ve always seen myself more Australian. Born and raise[d]. Loud and proud. People can judge and say whatever they like but at the end of the day, I’m AUSTRALIAN MOTHER FUCKER!
Nam Phan 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 4, Yagoona, UTS Civil Engineering student and DJ)Yes it is different, we get to experience both sides of the story. I feel that my parents have kept the Viet culture still rich inside me. I know a few things about where I came from. I have compassion for others who are less fortunate than me. I feel that kids who identify themselves as purely Australian are a bit confused and have a hatred or denial of their Asian side for no good reason.
Duy Nguyen 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 6, Yagoona, Events manager)Yeap! Get to enjoy good Asian food and claim it as your own, and have cool black hair that everyone env[ies].
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)Yes it does, because… in our genetic makeup we do look different to a typical Australian who has blonde hair and blue eyes.
Kartika 24 (Indonesian-Chinese Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 16, Mascot, Curtin Uni B Commerce graduate working at Rabobank)No, they should all be treated the same, especially [because] Australia is a very multicultural country.
What are your experiences living as an Asian person in Australia?
Nam Phan 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 4, Yagoona, UTS Civil Engineering student and DJ)Once in a while there will be some discrimination against me but I am pretty thick-skinned so I don’t really care. I just tell them they are exactly the same. The most common would probably being called ‘ching chong’, but yeh I just tell them that their language sounds strange.
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)I feel that I should be fortunate to be living in Australia… [but] because Australia has a very racist stigma attached to it, being… Asian Australian we have to deal with such issues. I get men who look at me [and] think I am Chinese and say things like ‘ching chong chung cheng’… I work in a Bar and because I am Asian some Australians assume I cannot speak English and don’t know what the word ‘beer’ means. E.g
Them: I want beer
Me: What kinda beer do you want?
Them: BEER DO YOU KNOW BEER?!
Me: YESSS I KNOWW BEEERRR WHAT TYPE OF BEEEEEERRRRR!!!!!
[I'm] thinking *geez I’m a bartender, just ’cause I’m Asian doesn’t mean I am stupid*
Them: Oh just a Tooheys thanks.
Them: I want beer
Me: What kinda beer do you want?
Them: BEER DO YOU KNOW BEER?!
Me: YESSS I KNOWW BEEERRR WHAT TYPE OF BEEEEEERRRRR!!!!!
[I'm] thinking *geez I’m a bartender, just ’cause I’m Asian doesn’t mean I am stupid*
Them: Oh just a Tooheys thanks.
Amy Yong 28 (Chinese Australian, Maroubra, B Commerce and Fashion Design diploma graduate)Never truly encounter[ed] discrimination. [However] during the Pauline Hanson times [I] had a few random [people] shout ‘go home’ to me on George street. My friends are mainly Asian, I find Anglos too different to me most of the time.
Kartika 24 (Indonesian-Chinese Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 16, Mascot, Curtin Uni B Commerce graduate working at Rabobank)I had a bit of bad experience when I came to Australia. My English was not very good when I came here and therefore I didn’t make a lot of friends. I was also discriminated at work due to the language barrier.
Nicholas 24 (Chinese-Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 13, Maroubra, UNSW graduate)I grew up being discriminated against just because I am ‘Asian’, but that didn’t stop me from living my life to the fullest… Easy? It wasn’t, but I got through it… Australia has come a long way since then, but the clashes will always remain, if not the traces of it… how we choose to live our lives is the thing that defines how our experiences draw our identity as Asian Australian citizens.
Michael Trinh 28 (Chinese-Vietnamese Australian, Bankstown, Architecture – Building designer)It wasn’t easy. I find that my English skills lagged a little. If my parents spoke more English, took m[e] to soccer practice rather than maths tutoring, or ribs and rumps rather than Pho An [restaurant], maybe I could [have done] better in school. But I’m grateful I speak another language.
Is being Asian Australian different to being Asian American, Canadian etc.? Do we share anything in common?
Salmin 22 (Indo-Fijian Australian born in Fiji and came to Australia at age 16, Bankstown, Financial analyst)Well, not really different. We’d both be tasked with the challenge of somehow fitting the way we were brought up with the multitude of traditions our neighbours share.
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)Yes, I’ve been to Canada before so I can relate my experiences – Canadians are more accepting of multiculturalism, I believe it’s because it’s been promoted in their country longer… [than] in Australia and discrimination is not tolerated as much as it is in Australia. From my experience, I never had any racist remarks made against me during my trip to Calgary, people are generally really nice… I think Canadians and Americans are more accept[ing] of Asians [than] Australians are.
Michael Trinh 28 (Chinese-Vietnamese Australian, Bankstown, Architecture – Building designer)Nope. Same no matter wear [sic] you go.
Kartika 24 (Indonesian-Chinese Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 16, Mascot, Curtin Uni B Commerce graduate working at Rabobank)I find they are all the same.
Is being Asian Australian different from being
Asian growing up in Asia?
Duy Nguyen 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 6, Yagoona, Events manager)You get to enjoy some of the more pleasant freedom[s] that [we] have here, instead of being brainwashed by the [political] propaganda, barriers and limitations that some of the Asian countries have.
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)We are different because the Asians that grow up in Australia are heavily influenced by the Western culture and have learned to adapt to it from a very young age because of the education system, communication with people of different backgrounds… television, and magazines and advertising. Asians brought up in [an Asian] country will have a lot of the Asian habits, for example some may be sceptical to eat different food… the education system is different in Asia so they may behave differently in class.
Jenny 25 (Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 19, Hurstville, USyd graduate)I think Asians living in [an] Asian country will have [a] more solid Asian culture compare[d] to Asians living in [a] Western country.
Nicholas 24 (Chinese-Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 13, Maroubra, UNSW graduate)Language is usually the first [difference] I picked up when meeting Asians from Asia… Bahasa Indonesia[n] was and has always been my mother tongue, but being here for almost 13 years has changed that and English became the predominantly used language in my life. Having a limited [number of] friends from my origin country has also contributed to the change. There was not enough Bahasa Indonesia[n] in my life to maintain further development. I now find myself in the process of re-entering a culture that I have long forgotten.
Kartika 24 (Indonesian-Chinese Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 16, Mascot, Curtin Uni B Commerce graduate working at Rabobank)The major difference would be the way they think, their behaviour and character. Most Asians that grow up in [an] Asian country are shy and less aggressive, but [people from] Asian diasporas are more forward-thinking, frank and upfront, they are also more independent.
Amy Yong 28 (Chinese Australian, Maroubra, B Commerce and Fashion Design diploma graduate)We [are] more open-minded and are not so afraid of making a fool of ourselves or losing ‘face’. They are sexist; we are not. They are weird; we are not… Their sexism and notion of family sickens me.
Charlene 26 (Chinese Australian born in Singapore and came to Australia at age 19, Maroubra, B Media and Communications graduate)They are still brought up by their Asian families and will be pretty similar. Peer pressure would differ, as culture is definitely different esp. with the other White children they meet at school.
Michael Trinh 28 (Chinese-Vietnamese Australian, Bankstown, Architecture – Building designer)Better life here. Glad they got out of that hole they call Vietnam! My mum agrees with me. The way I see it, why go back when you can move forward.
Do you feel like you share anything similar to
Asians living in Asia?
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)Yes, because I am Asian I cannot ignore my Asian heritage but to appreciate it and accept it. I can speak the language, not fluently though, I look Asian and I enjoy eating Asian food. I have some similar values such as respecting and honouring elders, being polite, having manners, and sometimes some behavioural signs such as general support for one another in times of need, and being concerned for other people.
Nicholas 24 (Chinese-Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 13, Maroubra, UNSW graduate)Half of my values that I kept originated from Asia, so I guess I do have commonalities. As open as I am to changes, the last thing I wanted was to completely erase my Asian values while living and learning in a new foreign country that I had to call home.
Nam Phan 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 4, Yagoona, UTS Civil Engineering student and DJ)Of course, I love sharing the food and culture, I like the ‘make money’ and surviving mentality. I feel that they don’t expect too many things; I feel like a lot of people here expect [and take for granted] things.
Michael Trinh 28 (Chinese-Vietnamese Australian, Bankstown, Architecture – Building designer)Other than hair colour similarities, I really want to rescue them. Send them some money. Teach ‘em the real ways of life. Also [I] find it hard to understand them. Wish [people] would teach them some English. It’s universal! It’s practical!
Duy Nguyen 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 6, Yagoona, Events manager)The commonalities that I feel and have towards Asians living in Asia, [are] the customs, languages, culture and food, especially the food! No other countries make good food that taste[s] as great as the Asians!! Ramen!! Udon!! Com chien!! Goi cuon! Fried fish and Tamarin sauce!! Pho!!
Amy Yong 28 (Chinese Australian, Maroubra, B Commerce and Fashion Design diploma graduate)Black hair, brown eyes.
Jenny 25 (Indonesian Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 19, Hurstville, USyd graduate)Yes there [is] still some Asian culture in [us].
Any messages you want to share?
Lily 22 (Vietnamese Australian born in Hong Kong and came to Australia at age 2, Bankstown, UOW B Commerce (Human Resources and International Business) student)[My] message is to be strong because it is not easy being an Asian Australian, people [will] say things to you that [are] mean just because [you're] Asian and it isn’t fair, people assume a lot of things about you. You can either ignore it, or prove them wrong.
Salmin 22 (Indo-Fijian Australian born in Fiji and came to Australia at age 16, Bankstown, Financial analyst)Every[one] is given 24 hours with which to live [their] day. Whether you use it to better yourself and your community is never dependent on how God rolled your dice. It’s your choice entirely.
Kartika 24 (Indonesian-Chinese Australian born in Indonesia and came to Australia at age 16, Mascot, Curtin Uni B Commerce graduate working at Rabobank)I feel that… Asian Australians [are] very lucky and [we] should be very happy about [being Asian Australian].
Duy Nguyen 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 6, Yagoona, Events manager)People of Earth, today we shall move forward! not backwards, sidewards, not forward, and always twirling, twirling towards freedom!… freedom of speech! of rights! of justice! the freedom to express yourself without barriers and limitations of any kind or sorts. The freedom of not being judge[d] by your external appearance.
Nam Phan 23 (Vietnamese Australian born in Vietnam and came to Australia at age 4, Yagoona, UTS Civil Engineering student and DJ)Don’t listen to your parents about becoming a doctor. Parents will force you to study but yeh do what you love… Make sure you put 100% into it and don’t slack off.
Are you Asian Australian? Leave a comment below, and share your opinions and views on the Asian Australian identity.
Next is a whole new generation…
We ask Sydney: Are you Asian Australian? (Gen X).
