Author Archives: Jasmine Lee

Chinese Story

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 60
Occupation: Vice President/ Business Development Manager
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: March 22, 2011
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English

There once was a very rich boy who would visit his favorite Chinese restaurant every single day.  Every day, he would ask for buns with the crust taken off for him — he only liked to eat the best/softest part.  Years later, the little boy’s family lost their fortune and were forced to live off the streets.  The little boy went to his old favorite restaurant and begged the owner for food.  The owner recognized the boy and told him to come inside and quickly made him some food.  The little boy happily ate every last bit of food offered to him and asked the owner what the delicious dish was made of.  The owner replied, “I saved the crusts you asked me to cut off all those years and fried them up into this dish for you.”

Joseph was born and raised in Taiwan and went to school there until he moved to America to attend college at John’s Hopkins University. He told me that this story was told to him by his father when he was a child.  He does not know if the story was told to his two younger brothers as well.  He told me that what this story meant to him was that it is important not to waste food.  Also, you must recognize that there are so many people less fortunate than you who would gladly eat the food you reject.  Additionally, this story reminds Joseph of his father and his childhood.  He continues to pass this story down to his children in order to both teach the important moral of the story in addition to keeping his father’s story alive through future generations.

While I do not believe this story is true, I believe that it teaches a very valuable lesson.  What this story means to me is similar to what it means to Joseph.  I believe it teaches the importance of not wasting and to not take more than I can handle.  It reminds me that I am extremely fortunate and that there are so many people who are less fortunate than I am.

Chinese New Year

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 60
Occupation: Vice President/ Business Development Manager
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: March 22, 2011
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English

Guo Nien

Pass year

New Year

Annually, an animal called the Nien came in the night and killed every first born in every home unless there was blood painted upon the door of the house. The next morning, the people would come out and congratulate everyone who was spared for having been passed by the Nien once again.  This was called Guo Nien, meaning “pass the year (or animal).”

Joseph was born and raised in Taiwan and went to school there until he moved to America to attend college at John’s Hopkins University.  He  told me this story about the Chinese New Year.  He said that when he heard the story, he noticed the incredible similarities between this story and the story of the Pharoah of Egypt, Moses, and the plagues.  In that legent, Moses commands the Pharoah to free the Hebrews enslaved to do the Pharoah’s bidding.  When the Pharoah refused, Moses, by God’s hand, inflicted the plagues in order to prove God’s existence and force the Pharoah to let the Hebrews go.  When he once again refused, God sent the plague that would kill the first born in every home unless there was a mark of lamb’s blood on the each house’s door as sacrifice.

Joseph said that the story of the Nien reminded him of his culture and that his mom and dad would tell the story to him and his younger brothers every Chinese New Year’s Eve.

I recently learned of this legend. While it is a legend, I do not believe it has any truth value. However, it is a great story as to explain the development of the year.

French Proverb

Nationality: French
Age: 20
Occupation: Civil/Environmental Engineering Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: March 22, 2011
Primary Language: French
Language: English, German

“Loin des yeux, près du coeur.”

“Far from the eyes, close to the heart.”

Helene goes to school at the University of Southern California.  She is a Civil/ Environmental Engineering student and is diligently working towards her bachelor’s degree.  She is considering going to law school after she graduates in order to ultimately practice environmental law.

Helene told me that this proverb is equivalent to the American proverb: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”  Helene was born and raised in France with her with her sister and her mother; her father currently lives in Toronto, Canada.  She came to America for the first time in 2008 when she was moving into her dorm room at USC in Los Angeles, CA.  She says that this proverb is very popular in France, and she does not remember exactly where she heard it from.  She believes she was around ten when she first heard this proverb, but does not remember the context in which it was first said.  Helene lives in Los Angeles away from her sister and mother in France and father in Canada.

Helene says that often, when she thinks of her sister and family, she thinks of this proverb.  She says that what it means to her is that even though she is away from her family and does not see them even nearly as often as she would like, her sister and family are still very present in her thoughts and that she holds them dear in her heart.  The phrase is often said in circumstances where one is forced to be separated from those he or she loves due to circumstances out of their control.  It is used to comfort and as a reminder that though they are far apart, their bond and love for each other cannot be broken or deteriorated.

While talking to Helene about this proverb, I found out that she and her sister both believe this proverb and both use it to explain their current situation.  They both know that no matter how far apart they are from each other, they will never love each other less and that their bond will only grow stronger with distance.  Personally, I both agree and disagree with her interpretation of the proverb.  She says that the French proverb is equivalent to the American proverb: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”  I feel like this is true in certain circumstances.  I have first-handedly witnessed and experienced both instances that either prove this proverb true or subvert it.  I feel as though if two love each other enough or are connected to each other and share enough history together, this proverb is very true.  In other situations, I believe that the opposite is true, which is related to the proverb: “Out of sight; out of mind.” Distance between two people who do not have enough connecting them will ultimately result in the deterioration of the relationship. Unless there is history that bonds the people together, there will be nothing to hold the relationship together.

The Crow – China

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 60
Occupation: Vice President/ Business Development Manager
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 20, 2011
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English

The old mother crow cries for her children to feed her; she is old and tired and can not get her own food.  The young crows go out and bring back food to the nest and feed the old mother crow first before feeding themselves.  Others ask the young crows, “Why do you all feed your mother before you feed yourselves?”  The young crows reply, “When we were young and unable to get our own food, we cried and cried for our mother to feed us.  When she came back with food, she always fed us first.”

Joseph was born and raised in Taiwan and went to school there until he moved to America to attend college at John’s Hopkins University.  Joseph told me his father used to tell this story to him and his two younger brothers at bedtime when he was a child.  He said that this story was one of his favorite stories as it was told by his grandfather to his father as well.  He said that it made him realize the sacrifices his mother made for him, and it helped him realize the importance of family.  Now, 60 years old, he remembers the moral of this story as he takes care of his mother the same way she took care of him when she was young.

I never heard this story before Joseph told me this during today’s interview.  I found it very touching and feel that it teaches listeners very important lessons including appreciation, respect, and family values.  I think about how my parents took care of me during my childhood and how they continue to take care of me and are there for me now.  When I was young, I was helpless and relied on them to take care of me.  When they are older and I am self-sufficient, I will return the love by taking care of them when they rely on me.

Conversion Folk Belief – China

Nationality: Chinese
Age: early 50s
Occupation: Vice President/ Bank Manager
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: February 19, 2011
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English, French, German, Dutch

When finished eating, you must clean your plate completely and every bit of food must be eaten.  If not, your future husband (or wife) will have the acne everywhere on the face that food was left on the place.

Pauline told me that this was told to her by her mother when she was a child.  She was born and raised in Taiwan with her older brother, older sister, and younger brother.  She said that this belief is very popular in China and Taiwan.  When she heard this, she said she was just a little girl, probably around seven or eight.  Her mother told this to her and her siblings while they were growing up; she and her siblings very diligently followed this belief.  She said that this folk belief traveled through her family for many generations. Believing and following it as a child, she further carried this belief by telling it to her children as they were growing up as well.

It was probably told to children because food was very scarce and precious; parents probably told children this belief because it was very important to convince children not to waste food without instructing them.  Rather than explaining the scarcity of food, parents would frighten children by telling them that their future spouses would suffer from the amount of acne equivalent to the amount of food they wasted as a child.

While I do not believe that this folk belief is true, I think it is an effective tactic to get children to finish all their food and indirectly learn that wasting is unacceptable.  As I child, I also believed this folk belief to be true.  I was certain that if I did not clean off my plate at every single meal, my future husband would be doomed to have the equivalent amount of acne on his face.  At the time, I followed this belief because I believed in it; now, I recognize the importance of the belief because of its true meaning and reference. I now follow the belief because of different reasons than I did when I was younger.  Even though the perceived threat in the belief does encourage and accept superficial desires for a good-looking husband, the true purpose of the belief is effective and has prevented all in my family at least from wasting and taking for granted my resources.