How Does American Culture Influence Chinese Teenagers’ Psychology?

Over the world, there are various kinds of culture influencing different groups of human beings. The local culture is one of the most important elements of the process of forming people’s their own psychology, especially when these guys are teenagers. As we all know, American culture is multivariate and pretty complex because of its unique history. In other words, this culture has effects in numerous aspects and is attractive to foreigners from other places on Earth. Girl in translation is written by Jean Kwok. This novel introduces the story about a Chinese girl from Hong Kong who goes to America and runs her life with challenges. American culture causes the delicate changes on her psychology. Therefore, how does American culture influence Chinese teenagers’ psychology? This question will be the core issue through the whole essay. In addition, this essay will compare with Chinese traditional young people’s attitude to their own lives and discuss how the Chinese girl in Girl in translation and the boy in American born Chinese adapt themselves to this strange living condition. And in my opinion, I think Kimberly’s ideas are changed subconsciously although sometimes she turns herself to fit into this society initiatively.

First of all, I want to say although America is the big furnace which mixes various kinds of culture. But exclusivism still takes roots in the region of America and exists as a part of American culture. By now, exclusion still plays a big role in the U.S.A. For instance, Trump made the special law to refuse the Muslims entering the country. Furthermore, it is one of the most major reasons that makes Kimberly’s thoughts much maturer than the peers’. Both of two characters in two different books are Chinese, which means they are different races from Americans. “Yes,Timmy. My momma says Chinese people eat dogs. Now be nice, Timmy! I’m sure Jin doesn't do that! In fact, Jin’s family probably stopped that sort of thing as soon as they came to the united states. The only other Asian in my class was Suzy Nakamura. When the class finally figured out that we weren't related, rumours began to circulate that suzy and I were arranged to be married on her thirteenth birthday. We avoided each other as much as possible.” ( Yang P31) According to this dialogue, the racism can easily be figured out. This stereotype is a kind of discrimination. The protagonist is still a young boy without hearing these aimed words before. So I suppose that he has been sacred and then he notices he ought to constrain his behaviour. In addition,(Kwok P37) “I told her the whole story, the way Mr.Bogart had corrected my accent yesterday, the way he’d be angry at the things I hadn't understood, that he’d thought I’d been cheating and give me a zero.” The unfair judgement without asking in detail makes Kimberly feel uncomfortable. As we all know, teenagers pretty attach importance to the relationship between teachers and themselves. Thus, the impatience from Mr.Bogart forces Kimberly to speak and act cautiously. This exclusive sense which becomes shaper and shaper for the unharmonious relationship between students and teachers as well as classmates induces the premature Chinese teenagers. “I called Brooklyn Union Gas, and a repairman was sent to our house.” (Kwok P223) This behaviour proves she can do something like the adult, not like the Chinese kids around her age just hiding in the shadow of their parents.But sometimes there is another phenomenon that the new person cannot fit in this new environment. “A new face deserved a new name. I decided to call myself Danny.” (Yang P198) The picture introduces that the original protagonist cannot afford the original life and change his appearance by experiencing the magic. In conclusion, although the strange condition carries the difficulties to these youths, it still provides a good platform for them to make themselves stronger.

Secondly, American culture builds another important characteristic up what is overcoming the problems by themselves without depending on others, as known as independence or self-reliance. “ Twenty minutes before credits I got a jolt of confidence. I decided to make my move. But I had to take care of something first. Be right back.”(Yang P167) The boy noticed he had bad smelling when he was dating with the girl he liked thus he decided to solve this problem,while there are just many other people who speak completely different languages around him. Nevertheless he could ask for others’ help, but friends or strange people surrounding him had never bothered him for their personal reasons. The atmosphere of this country trains these residents to take charge of their duties. “ I understood the word “ note” and I’d known I would have to hand in something to explain my absence from school. I gave him a note I’d forged as best I could,”(Kwok P52), although this action is dishonest and wrong. But after she stayed in America for a little while, she knew all things about herself were not worthy to bother others doing for herself. Furthermore, Kimberly went to school and the Chinatown by herself without her mum’s shuffling. Additionally, she could make money and work as an adult labor member. Thus, from these two aspects, her personality, daily living habits, etc. come to an integral and independent individual. Comparing with Chinese students in the primary school, children pretty rely on their parents. Thus, it causes a popular phenomenon that more than two elder family members take care of one kid. However, Kimberly, this young Chinese girl in America proved that was unnecessary. Furthermore, her attitude to her life is that “I should be responsible for my future not others.”

The third point is that the American culture encourages her to realise her dream. And in my opinion, this behaviour should be named as “American Dream”. American culture is a kind of trailblazers’ culture which encourages people to have a good life by making an effort for realising their dream. Kimberly also used her actual behaviour to show its feasibility. “Where would you like to go for college?” she asked. I responded without hesitation. “Yale” (Kwok P245) Yale University is one of the founding members of the Ivy league which consists of eight first-class and famous universities. “In tenth grade, I enrolled in AP classes, even though they were generally for juniors and seniors. Later, at the end of the year, I would receive the top score, a 5, on all of my exams.” (Kwok P206) These scores she has acquired are the milestones of Kimberly for realising her dream. The inspirations the culture gives us are not only about dream, but also render the courage for us to do the events we want to do. For instance, “ I couldn't tell you the plot, any of the actor’s names, or even the title, but that was the best movie I ever saw. During the funny moments she giggled in my ear. During the dramatic moments she clutched my shoulder. And during the quiet moments I listened to her breathe.” (Yang P166) What’s more, page 166, 170 and 171 of American born Chinese, which figure out that the pursuing girl ought to be brave. The core point of spiritual character which is shown on Kimberly and Jin Wang is when they have aimed at targets, even with some blocks on this way, they will work much harder without any hesitation and carry with their courage to find the way out. This teaches us whether the event before our eyes is big or not, if we intend to finish it, we will succeed in our way. Back to see the Chinese students, it sort of looks a little bit odd. A larger part of Chinese young teenagers don't own their ideal school, job or something they prefer to do. They just live to realise their parents’ requirements without any self-consciousness. To sum up, although the Chinese teenagers are in the conflict of two different cultures meeting some troubles, the conflict still brings the unique advantages which other people don’t have. And I don't want to provoke Chinese culture or American culture. The comparison between them is to figure out what the difference of western and eastern culture is. This essay is to discuss how the exterior factors influence their psychological activity and when Chinese teenagers adapt themselves to this society’ thoughts, how the process of their thoughts works.

The final part is some my personal analysis about these two books. At the beginning of American born Chinese, the dilemma is people surrounding you can not admit you who are different from these original people. This dilemma comes from the monkey king, who is discriminated for nothing on his feet. It is the exclusion I have talked about in the first body paragraph. Girl in translation shows us that individuals’ potential will erupt as they don't have the leeway. In our daily life, we can find plenty of excuses for our failures but in the novel, Kimberly has just one chance, and has been successful, even better than many others. Tang Monk has said a classic sentence in American born Chinese, “To find your true identity..within the will of Tze-Yo-Tzuh...that's the highest of all freedoms.” (Yang P149) I believe both of Jing Wang and Kimberly haven't found their true identity yet because the goal of Kimberly doing the doctor’s job is to have a high quality life without worrying about money. Jing Wang even does not notice what he desires in his subconsciousness. What is the true identity of mine? Maybe this question is like the three philosophic questions of Plato “ Who am I? Where do I come from? Where should I go?”, which perplexes human beings for a long time.

Bibliography:
Yang, Gene Luen, American Born Chinese, 2009, New York
Kwok, Jean, Gril In Translation, 2010, New York