C7: Cultural Identity, Tone or Perspective

"Dinner threw me deeper into despair." (Tan, 1987)

"Julia Altagracia María Teresa Álverez Tavares Perello Espaillat Julia Pérez Rochet González. I pronounced it slowly, a name as chaotic with sounds as a Middle Eastern bazaar or market day in a South American village." (Alvarez, 1991)

"I was too afraid we wouldn't be let in if I corrected the man's punctuation..." (Alvarez, 1991)

"'It's a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied,' explained my father..." (Tan, 1987) after belching.

It wasn't until many year later – long after I had gotten over my crush on Robert – that I was able to fully appreciate her lesson and the true purpose behind our particular menu." (Tan, 1987)

"A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes... Tofu, which looked like stacked wedges of rubbery white sponges. A bowl soaking dried fungus back to life." (Tan, 1987)

Her mom said, "You know what your friend Shakespeare said, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Alvarez, 1991)

"When I found out that my parents had invited the minister's family over for Christmas Eve dinner, I cried." (Tan, 1987)

"I, her namesake, was known as Hoo-lee-tah at home. But at school I was Judy or Judith." (Alvarez, 1991)

"For Christmas I prayed for this blond-haired boy, Robert, and a slim new American nose." (Tan, 1987)

"I laughed to myself, wondering which one I would go by." (Alvarez, 1991)

"My little sister, Ana, had the easiest time of all. She was plain Anne—that is, only her name was plain, for she turned out to be the pale, blond “American beauty” in the family." (Alvarez, 1991)

"'But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame.'" (Tan, 1987)

"But, inevitably, my accent and coloring gave me away." (Alvarez, 1991)

"My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table..." (Tan, 1987)

" burned with shame whenever they singled me out as a “foreigner,” a rare, exotic friend." (Alvarez, 1991)

"...trilling my tongue for the drumroll of the r, All-vah-rrr-es!" (Alvarez, 1991)

"What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners?" (Tan, 1987)