Charon Hu
Homeland?
Hong Kong
Year Immigrated to United States?
2012
Age when immigrated?
13
Why did you leave your country?
Education
What had you heard about the United States? What expectations did you have?
I heard the people have an outgoing attitude and I had worries about its gun culture. In some ways I was right.
Did you leave your family behind?
Sort of. My parents stayed in Hong Kong while I was in school. But I visit them every break.
Where in the United States did you arrive?
New York
What was the journey like?
I was a 13 year old child on board a 16 hours flight. It felt like the longest flight I've ever taken.
What was your first job in the United States?
I worked at Uniqlo as a retailer
Did you attend school in the United States? What was it like?
Yes. When I attended high school I was first unacquainted with the individualist culture. Later I embraced it.
As time has passed, how does your experience in the United States compare to what you expected?
I'd say the process gave me a new perspective on people, and helped me realize that all people have their own form of struggles.
Has your cultural identity changed? If yes, how?
I think so. I feel like I am as much American as I'm Chinese.
How do you maintain your culture and customs of your home country? Is it difficult to do so?
No. Cultural roots are ingrained in your mind, and I believe even only those who wishes to discard them will often fail to do so. Still, it's more difficult to celebrate Chinese holidays in America, and likewise for American holidays.
What was the best thing about your immigrant experience? What has been the most difficult or challenging? Are there any times you felt welcomed or unwelcomed as an immigrant?
I felt it help me gained a new perspective, that I discovered a part of myself that I would've never discovered had I not come here. The worst part would be the challenge of trying to express yourself with a limited vocabulary.
What do you wish more people knew about immigrants?
A person struggling to speak English does not mean he/she is not intelligent.
What are some important things people could do to make the process of coming to a new country better?
I don't think I have an answer to that. I believe the US is already doing a good job in that compartment, there are certain fundamental mentalities that are difficult to change. Perhaps more inclusion of world history/culture in HS curriculum would help indirectly.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
That it does not matter where you are form, people are all just doing their best to achieve what they want. There really aren't that much difference between us.