Jeff Wang Blog

Daily post 299

Why did my mother decide to immigrate from China to Vancouver?

It’s a question I’ve been pondering for nearly 19 years until tonight during my farewell dinner I decided to ask the person who had the answer.

My mother has always been one of the toughest people I know, and finally knowing her story more in depth today made me realize how many sacrifices my mom did to give me a life in Canada.

I think immigrants all have a special story. Why did they choose to come to America, or Canada, or where ever? Choosing to leave your home country is a big step. Whether it be to escape poverty, cruelty, or simply to start a new life.

This year has been a big year for me in becoming more connected with my Chinese-Canadian heritage. I spent two months of my summer in Shanghai and then a week visiting my family in the rural areas of China. I’ve always known that I come from two very different cultures and I’ve often struggled managing both.

Ever since I finished reading Crazy Rich Asians, and then watched the movie, and then proceeded to binge the TV show “Fresh off the Boat”, I’ve realized that the life and culture I grew up in is distinctly “Chinese-Canadian”. There were certainly many imperfect aspects of my childhood and family upbringing. And even though my mom didn’t often say “I love you verbally, I know she does, because she always shows it.

Thanks mom. I love you.