Kitchen Chinese

1. My family has considered moving back to China several times, because of family back there and the fact that becoming fluent in Chinese would be more helpful for job searching later on in our futures. In addition to this, my parents could feel more comfortable living in China.

2. I think the author chose “Kitchen Chinese” as the title because the author’s lack of proficiency with Mandarin and her ability to only speak “kitchen Chinese” is the reason for many of the events in the book. Language plays a major role in this book – it prevents Isabelle from getting her wanted job, and it isolates her from the rest of the Chinese.

3. Chinese parents definitely have many more expectations for their children than American parents. This is probably because of the difficulties they had to face to immigrate here and give their children an easier life. Their children have a childhood easier than their childhood, so Chinese parents expect their children to do more.

4. Isabelle’s discovery of Chinese revealed to her the importance of learning more about her heritage and how she should not have neglected her Chinese education. The best way to understand about a foreign place is probably total immersion.

5. When I was in elementary school, I felt like a fish out of water the most – I had friends, but there were some kids that were and still are prejudiced. I learned to adapt by surrounding myself with good people and ignoring the racists – nowadays, I never see them anymore, and those that I do see don’t try to annoy me.

6. Yes, this probably is somewhat of a widespread stereotype – although I think that the “fat” stereotype is more common. I think people form their opinions of Americans from the Americans they see in the media – for example, television. I form my opinions of people on how they act.