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5 Things You Know Too Well If You're Quarantining With Your Immigrant Parents

This one is for my first generation Americans

Mar 26, 2020

https://pixabay.com/photos/usd-rice-food-china-bowl-67411/

To get started, I identify as Chinese-American as I was born in the USA and my parents are of Chinese descent. They immigrated here from China in the 80's and have been here since. I personally haven't been back to my home country, but I heard it's got its ups and downs like all of us. But I'm also a college student, and like most college students today, I'm quarantined back in my hometown. But my experience is a little bit different and here's why

I can't understand my parents

So my parents are Chinese but they grew up in Vietnam, so they also speak Vietnamese. They're trilingual, isn't that neat? It is when they aren't constantly yelling at each other. I personally was taught Cantonese when I was growing up so that's what I understand. But they yell at each other every other hour in Vietnamese and I just hear doors slamming shut and things crashing

I should be back in my college town

I'm not living in a dorm, I still have a place to live near my college. I wasn't kicked out or anything, I'm still paying rent for my place while I'm in my hometown in fact. They were insistent on me coming home since it's better and safer than holing myself in my room all day.

Constant interruptions

They are constantly doing something around the house be it cleaning, cooking, or literally blasting traditional Vietnamese music in the background. Thank god for the mute button, but when it's my turn to speak or it's a group meeting? God, they can hear everything and anything with my mic apparently

Communication issues

Look, I'll admit I'm not the best at Cantonese. But it's not like I'm going to use terms like neural networks and data analytics in everyday conversation with my parents. But I can't even tell them, "Hey don't talk to me because I'm going to be in a club meeting". I'm simply telling them the most basic, I have something for school. That's it. I can say time, but I can't delve into anything more because I also don't know how to say Greek Life in Cantonese either.

Home Cooked meals

Aight, I'll give, this is pretty nice. There's no way in hell that my PWI is gonna have legit Vietnamese or Chinese food nearby. To name the ones I know how to translate in English, it's pretty nice to have Mapo Tofu or Pho ready, fresh and hot. The taste of jasmine rice is better than the dried brown rice of the dining location that I work part-time at my university.

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5 Things You Know Too Well If You're Quarantining With Your Immigrant Parents

This one is for my first generation Americans

In This Article:

I can't understand my parents

I should be back in my college town

Constant interruptions

Communication issues

Home Cooked meals

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It's Been a Long Winter Break

Making the world safer through language.

1. Use singular they for people whose pronouns you don't know, people who use those pronouns, and stop using him/her.

2. Stop using the words "opposite sex" or "both sexes" or "opposite gender" or "both genders".

3. Ask people's pronouns when you meet them.

4. Use the word cisgender.

5. Stop saying "born a boy/girl" about a transgender or non-binary person.

6. Stop using the term 'preferred pronouns'.

7. Stop using a transgender or non-binary person's dead name.

Sometimes, we just can't help the feelings we have

1. Wow. My voice sounds amazing with this song.

2. Okay, if you can't sing, don't do it.

3. But wait, I don't think I can be friends with someone who isn't going to jam out in the car with me.

4. Dance part in the car! Even when I'm alone. Because every song is my favorite.

5. Stop light. Act calm. Be cool.

6. Yes! Green light! Back at it!

7. I don't know this song, but I'm going to sing along anyway.

8. Why am I not famous yet?

9. Being next to someone who can't sing so you feel good about yourself because you rock!

10. OK, I'm so good. I need to sing louder so I can help these people out.

11. My voice doesn't reach some of those notes, maybe I should sit this one out.

12. Randomly bursting out in song and getting weird looks because of it.

13. God, thank you so much for giving me a good voice.

14. Man, I feel bad for people who can't sing.

15. Was I just humming? Did they hear me?

16. Having dance moves to go along with most songs.

17. Not being able to stop yourself at correcting people when they mess up.

18. Maybe I should post myself singing.

19. Nah, can't do it. Dumb idea.

20. Having my own personal concert in the shower. Every single time.

Normal people wouldn't understand

1. Having time to nap between classes or at all.

2. Waking up 10 minutes before your class starts and making it there in time.

3. Making it to class in general

4. Only having to hit the snooze button three times.

5. When you didn't do the homework and the teacher decides not to collect it for that day.

6. Getting that "I'm sorry, but class is cancelled" email.

7. Finding a quiet seat in the library.

8. Actually enjoying a class and understanding all of the material.

9. Having a friend to eat lunch with.

10. Finishing an assignment before the due date.

11. When there is free food on campus.

Becuase of all things to be addicted to, you're addicted to making money.

1. You can't remember your last day off.

2. Whenever someone asks to hang out, you're working.

3. When you do see your friends, you're in a "treating mood."

4. You work so much you don't have time to spend the money you're making.

5. You're too tired to function when you aren't working.

6. Finally seeing your friends and having way too much to catch up on.

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