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(For new reader and those who request 好友请求, please read my 公告栏 first).
中国孝子 (孝顺你的儿子)
小李(不是真名) is a Chinese from 唐山(不是真地名)living in the Boston area. He does not speak
English and is probably here in the US without status. He does physical labor for Chinese
contractors who build houses in the Boston area (打工). Because of the real estate slow
down in America, he is not fully employed. So he washes dishes for Chinese restaurants
and if possible does odd jobs (打零工) of any kind for Chinese Americans here. Many
seniors need yard cleaning, minor house painting and repairs, and trim trees – chores
most of us use to do ourselves but now becoming physically challenging as we reach old
age. So people hire小李 for a day or two to do these jobs for them. This is good work
for him since it pays better than washing dishes in restaurants and the work is more
pleasant.
We have used小李 several times the past year to help us in our suburban home as both
my wife and I are getting on in years. I pick him up at the subway station in the morning
and return him to the station in the evening. During the course of driving back and forth
we get to talk about his life in China and here. He lives in a rooming house with other
Chinese in similar situation and cooks his own simple meals. He has no social life since
he does not speaking English, There are several hundred people just like him in the
Boston area. All struggle to make a living and saving money. I asked him how long he
plans to remain in the US. He tells me that at least two more years even though he misses
his wife back in China. I ask him why (Unlike Chinese student who receives a high tech
degree here and can look forward to a reasonably comfortable life, he has no future and
cannot expect any improvement in his condition). He replies that he must save another 20
thousand dollars so that he can buy a house for his son. It turns out he has one son who
works in Beijing and wants to get married. The girl or her family refuse to have the
marriage take place unless the son first buys a house for one hundred fifty thousand RMB
(approximately US$20,000) in Beijing. Actually小李 owns a house in 唐山 which he
and his wife is willing to let the son have. They will then rent another apartment to live.
But the son does not wish to live in 唐山 believing he has a better job in Beijing. Thus,
小李 must try to earn the 20 thousand dollars the hard way.
To most American parents and children, this is a most unthinkable scenario. Most
children in US are taught and expected to become independent as soon as possible. Some
middle class parents do not even consider college education as the parent's responsibility.
To have your parents separated for years by thousands of miles and living in dirt poor
condition by American standards and slaving away just because you want a nice house so you can get
married is the height of ungratefulness. Yet 小李does not complain and feels it is his
duty to do this for his son. "After all, he is my only son" he says.
I have no doubt countless parents in China today are making similar sacrifices so that
their children can have better lives. I hope these children 小皇帝 appreciate the effort of
their parents and show some appreciation before it is too late.
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