One thing I am proud of right now is that she takes care of her parents… It is a tradition I want to carry on in my own life, and teach to my children someday.
What did you learn from your mother about being Taiwanese? (妳從妳母親那兒學到甚麼是一個台灣人?)
I learned about how important it is to identify myself as Taiwanese, and not as Chinese. I remember as a little kid having to correct my friends when they mistakenly thought Taiwanese meant my family came from Thailand. (Similar in sound, but quite different!) I think this experience impressed upon me at an early age that being Taiwanese was rare, and so it made me special too.
Tell us about one of your earliest memories of your mother. (妳對母親最早的記憶是甚麼?)
My earliest memory of my mother is when I was about 4 years old. I remember that I would try to get out of going to bed, and my younger brother and I would pull the old trick of saying we were hungry. My mom would give in every now and then, and allow my brother and me to prolong going to sleep. She would give us each a slice of bread, which we had fun smashing into little balls before eating it. I remember having a fun time hanging out late at night with my mom, just laughing and smashing bread.
Tell us about the ways that your mother makes you proud. (妳母親／女兒讓你感到驕傲的是甚麼?)
My mother works hard — really hard. One thing I am proud of right now is that she takes care of her parents. I attribute this family responsibility and respect for our elders as our Asian heritage. It is a tradition I want to carry on in my own life, and teach to my children someday.
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