Christina J. Hsu
People's Republic of China
May 2004
View Previous Submission by Christina Hsu
Class Outside the Classroom
During a time when U.S. security warnings are at a high, it is an understatement to say that living abroad as an American citizen has been interesting. My conversations with Chinese friends and some of my elder interviewees on the topic of recent U.S.-foreign relations have brought up a gamut of viewpoints regarding America. While some believe America to be an international bully, others express only positive comments of U.S. policies (although usually referenced with Hollywood films). And, as it goes in a country holding the largest population in the world, there are many who hold viewpoints that range between these aforementioned two. The varying opinions of America held by my close Chinese friends can be likened to my American perception of communism in China: My preconceived notions of communist China were a collection of words and images from the classroom, books and the media until I had the opportunity to interact with Chinese friends who “humanized” communism for me with their first-hand experiences. As I continue to discuss current and historical events with them, I hope to “humanize” the privileges and responsibilities that come with being American through my unique experiences as a Chinese American. Since February, I have been conducting a survey on the media impacts on Beijing’s youngest-old elders (65-80 years old), covering questions from education, income, and health to access and preferences in television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. Since I am surveying through the mian tan method (one-on-one interviews that take form of casual discussions), each interview has lasted much longer than expected, and as a result, I am behind my targeted number of completed surveys. However, I have no intention of changing my methodology because the mian tan method has given me the luxury of listening to riveting oral histories, allowing me to understand where my interviewees have been and what they have experienced more thoroughly. It also exposes me to testimonies that cannot be found in bookstore publications and do not directly involve my research (providing a nice and much needed breather). Each of them have unique experiences to share: a veteran who was denied an education because he was a Red Army dissident during the Cultural Revolution; a retired school teacher who has spent years mastering her hobby of herbal medicine; a Buddhist grandfather whose children are split between Beijing and Shanghai working to finance his hospital bills. A major challenge in my survey is finding a sample of elders who accurately reflect Beijing’s youngest-old population. Since media exposure and access are correlated with socioeconomic status and living arrangement, it is important that I interview elders at various income levels who live alone, in elderly homes, or in intergenerational households. A few other challenges are deciding what field sites are appropriate for surveying and what questions are too sensitive to ask. One consistently noticeable difference in reactions I have received has been between those who joined the workforce before 1949 and those who have joined after 1949. Since elders who began work before 1949 receive pensions equal to the amount of their salary after retirement, they have been more willing to talk to me about their financial satisfaction and support. These retirees are considered contributors who aided in establishing the People's Republic of China (distinguishing those who are "tuixiu" and "lixiu"). Experiencing life in Beijing (perhaps the fastest developing city in the world) by spending time with those who have experienced life here the longest has given me invaluable insights into Chinese culture and history – a class I was never able to elect in college but now have the pleasure of attending.
|
