This is my grandfather's story - I'm so happy it's getting out there in the context of current events. If anyone wants any more details about the story, let me know.
This is my grandfather's story - I'm so happy it's getting out there in the context of current events. If anyone wants any more details about the story, let me know.
If any of my questions are too personal, feel free to ignore it. Why did your great grandfather go to America all alone at first? Was it normal to send a 9 year old on a trans-pacific ship by...
If any of my questions are too personal, feel free to ignore it.
Why did your great grandfather go to America all alone at first? Was it normal to send a 9 year old on a trans-pacific ship by himself? What about your great grand mother? How did they survive in America? What kind of discrimination did they face?
I don't actually know the answers to all your questions, but I'll try! Before I answer questions - are you actually asking about my great grandfather, or just my grandfather (who is the one in the...
I don't actually know the answers to all your questions, but I'll try!
Before I answer questions - are you actually asking about my great grandfather, or just my grandfather (who is the one in the article)?
Alright, I've tracked down the family history documents, so here we go: To make his fortune. I don't think he was even married when he first came to America. He went back to China to get a wife (a...
Alright, I've tracked down the family history documents, so here we go:
Why did your great grandfather go to America all alone at first
To make his fortune. I don't think he was even married when he first came to America. He went back to China to get a wife (a common theme in my family's history).
Was it normal to send a 9 year old on a trans-pacific ship by himself?
He was not by himself - his older brother (who was born in America) was with him. His brother had come back to China to get married and was coming back. However, his brother didn't have any issues at the border, which is why my grandfather ended up alone on Angel Island.
What about your great grand mother?
She wasn't around to help. My great grandfather died two years after my grandfather got to America so he never sent for her. Plus my grandfather hated his mother (she was very cruel to him as a boy). I believe she was eventually moved to America for some reason but I never learned much about her.
How did they survive in America?
Apparently fairly well before my great grandfather died, then it was a rough life for an 11-year-old on his own (and saddled with debt from his father). His brother never helped him and so he just worked hard (as a kid) to get by. He got a lucky break winning a small lottery which let him pay off his father's debts, but otherwise it was a really rough childhood.
What kind of discrimination did they face?
Of all the questions, this is the least I know about, to be honest. Besides Angel Island, I don't know what sort of discrimination they had to deal with in their life.
Damn, your grandfather had it rough. Did he ever regret going to America, or was he glad he avoided the whole civil + japanese war? Did he ever go back and visit China?
Damn, your grandfather had it rough. Did he ever regret going to America, or was he glad he avoided the whole civil + japanese war? Did he ever go back and visit China?
I don't think regret ever factored into it - it's not like he made a choice to come to America, his father sent for him and that was that. He did go back to China at least once to get a wife (like...
I don't think regret ever factored into it - it's not like he made a choice to come to America, his father sent for him and that was that.
He did go back to China at least once to get a wife (like I said, big family theme until my parent's generation). The story goes that he went to a matchmaker who repeatedly tried to set him up with small, pretty women and he rejected them because he wanted a strong, sturdy woman. Then he was matched with my grandmother and they agreed to get married in a few minutes.
Thanks for posting this, it was very interesting to read. And it reminds me a lot of the Chinese immigrant stories you hear in Victoria, BC, Canada. Elements of being detained without much...
Thanks for posting this, it was very interesting to read. And it reminds me a lot of the Chinese immigrant stories you hear in Victoria, BC, Canada. Elements of being detained without much information and being separated from family exists there too.
This is my grandfather's story - I'm so happy it's getting out there in the context of current events. If anyone wants any more details about the story, let me know.
If any of my questions are too personal, feel free to ignore it.
Why did your great grandfather go to America all alone at first? Was it normal to send a 9 year old on a trans-pacific ship by himself? What about your great grand mother? How did they survive in America? What kind of discrimination did they face?
I don't actually know the answers to all your questions, but I'll try!
Before I answer questions - are you actually asking about my great grandfather, or just my grandfather (who is the one in the article)?
Well...I asked questions about both. When I say 'they' I meant the entire family.
Alright, I've tracked down the family history documents, so here we go:
To make his fortune. I don't think he was even married when he first came to America. He went back to China to get a wife (a common theme in my family's history).
He was not by himself - his older brother (who was born in America) was with him. His brother had come back to China to get married and was coming back. However, his brother didn't have any issues at the border, which is why my grandfather ended up alone on Angel Island.
She wasn't around to help. My great grandfather died two years after my grandfather got to America so he never sent for her. Plus my grandfather hated his mother (she was very cruel to him as a boy). I believe she was eventually moved to America for some reason but I never learned much about her.
Apparently fairly well before my great grandfather died, then it was a rough life for an 11-year-old on his own (and saddled with debt from his father). His brother never helped him and so he just worked hard (as a kid) to get by. He got a lucky break winning a small lottery which let him pay off his father's debts, but otherwise it was a really rough childhood.
Of all the questions, this is the least I know about, to be honest. Besides Angel Island, I don't know what sort of discrimination they had to deal with in their life.
Damn, your grandfather had it rough. Did he ever regret going to America, or was he glad he avoided the whole civil + japanese war? Did he ever go back and visit China?
I don't think regret ever factored into it - it's not like he made a choice to come to America, his father sent for him and that was that.
He did go back to China at least once to get a wife (like I said, big family theme until my parent's generation). The story goes that he went to a matchmaker who repeatedly tried to set him up with small, pretty women and he rejected them because he wanted a strong, sturdy woman. Then he was matched with my grandmother and they agreed to get married in a few minutes.
Thanks for posting this, it was very interesting to read. And it reminds me a lot of the Chinese immigrant stories you hear in Victoria, BC, Canada. Elements of being detained without much information and being separated from family exists there too.