[Mike L.]

Oliver Sacks addresses this issue with a patient of his that he wrote about in a chapter of his book, Anthropologist on Mars. The thing that stood out for me in that chapter is how the patient who had gained his sight had to learn to take in information non-sequentially. For instance, when navigating a furnished room, the blind person moves around objects one at a time. But after he gained his sight, the patient had to become accustomed to riding in a car and being able to see an airplane outside of his window. It was something he could not have imagined on his own, had he not seen it. This made navigating that same room as a sighted person something he had to relearn.

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Name : Mike L., Gender : M, Race : Asian, Age : 29, City : Walnut Creek, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Mike L.]

Anyone who tries to take away your dignity is not your friend. Don't invest any value you have of yourself in anyone who tries to take away your dignity.

Of my family, I was the only one born and completely educated in the United States. I haven't picked up Chinese because to do so would require a system of learning Chinese that has never been made available to me.

There are some people who were raised in American education, and have picked up their parents' native languages, because they can handle a flood of information. That is a strength. But just because you and I can't handle that flood of information doesn't mean we don't have our own strengths. Find your strength first, and nurture that, then worry about fitting in.

As for the acceptsance of not knowing Chinese in the United States, that has varied depending on where I have lived. In homogenous communities, either all white or all Chinese, there has been less acceptance. People from these communities are less likely to imagine living outside of a prescribed lifestyle.

Heterogenous communities, with mixed ethnicities, do not attract people who subscribe to prescribed lifestyles.

In other words, do some research and find someplace where you will be valued for who you are. I promise that the people who tell you you should be ashamed will not follow you.

User Detail :  

Name : Mike L., Gender : M, Race : Asian, Age : 29, City : Walnut Creek, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

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