My literacy sponsor is my sister Christine Wang. She is younger than me by two years and lives across the world, in a Chinese province called, Fuzhou. We’ve been separated for the majority of our lives and our relationship only started to get closer over the last few years. Growing up in the US, and being surrounded by mostly Americans for my entire life has made me somewhat white-washed. I had forgotten how to read Chinese from the lack of practice over the years, and my sister is the one who brought me back, closer to my Chinese culture.
I remember the times when I was crying while face-timing her from the frustration of not understanding the Chinese homework given by my high school teachers. I felt stupid and useless, but my sister was always there for me when I needed her. She would laugh at me at times and say “What you’re learning right now is taught to first graders here in China”, and that would push me even harder. I can’t lose to these kids, I thought to myself. From that day on, with the help and patience of my sister, I have relearned my Chinese and can read and write quite a bit now. There is still a lot to learn but at least I am fluent in speaking it. Although we may only see each other once every 10 years, we are just as close as any other sister around the world. Thanks for being both my sister and my mentor.
Selina, thank you! Your descriptions are emotionally genuine and very detailed– I get a strong sense of your sister as a person, and the doors that your relationship have opened for you.
Hi Selina, I think that its really important that you decided to reconnect with your Chinese culture through your younger sister. Growing up in the US can definitely make you forget other languages that are native to you.
Like your sister I have also got some funny comments when I have started high school here. Basically, for Those who came here from the Asian subcontinent, it’s pretty easy for them to catch the study because they have already completed those topics in middle school.