If Sky and I were to grow up together,
these photos and sell them for lots and lots
we’d live in the crowded city of Da Lian
of money. We’d dance whenever we feel
China. We would walk down the dirty but
like it and we would make lots of arts and
lively sidewalks every night. We would eat
crafts. We would know all our neighbors
roasted lamb kabobs hinted with cumin,
and everyone that lives in our tight-knit
pepper, and spices paired with a side of
community.
tangy cold noodles every night. We would
However, that is not the case. Sky, my 12
both enjoy ourselves in the busy streets,
year old cousin, lives in the city of Da Lian,
each step sinking us more and more into
China with my aunt and uncle, while I grow
the background chatter of drunk pedestrians
up in the Bay Area. In China, Sky would
and bright lights that hang above the city.
know the ins and outs of the city and all
We’d both work together as photographers
of the restaurant’s owners; however, we
and we can take photos of each other and
Bay Area folks rely on Google Maps and
other people. We would edit and frame
hopefully a true Yelp review to pick our
dining preferences. Sky leads a life independent of technology, and as a result she is more in tune with her community. By examining how Sky navigates her busy days, we Americans can learn to leave our iPhones behind and experience our lives more completely. Living in Da Lian, China is like taking the bullet train. You get into your tiny cabin, whether it’s a classroom, an office building, or a restaurant and you watch the day fly by if you’re lucky enough to have a window. However, your day really begins when school or work ends and the moons rises to light
“Your day really begins when school or work ends” the awakening streets below. After Sky finishes her mountainous pile of homework, she spends time out of the house either eating with friends, or just people-watching from somewhere isolated without using any technology. Sky
My Cousin Sky
enjoys the buzz of the city from a distance, but at the end of a
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busy day she like to rest alone. Living in
2 o’clock in the morning and going to school 4
China can sometimes provide a sense of
hours later. Jackson emphasizes the importance
intimacy to our community, but also a
of having excellent grades in China, because it
feeling of populousness and nakedness
has a direct correlation to your connections and
because you get neither privacy nor alone
how in-tune you are with the people around
time. Sky especially has grown use to
you. He laments, “If you have poor grades,
the feeling, but
then nobody would
it forces her
want to associate
to retreat to
with you.” Jackson
a quiet room
mentions that he
most nights
felt more connected
by herself. Sky
to the people
would say that
around him back
living in China
in China because
has its benefits-
people didn’t use
like a tight knit
their phone to
community and
find a place to
a less technical
hang out. They
lifestyle-but the connections sucks your
liked exploring and finding a restaurant they
energy away, and drives a wedge between
enjoy, befriending the restaurant owner, and
your personal life and the show you play
developing a close relationship, therefore
for other people.
benefiting themselves. After all, who can resist
On the other side of the globe, Jackson, a
free food?
Chinese immigrant, now lives here in the
Bay Area. Jackson remembers vividly his
more toned down lifestyle. She is still in
period of transition and how he misses
elementary school and as sixth grader isn’t
his old life, moments such as walking
allowed to travel too far or stay out too late. Her
down stairs and being greeted by the
freedom is somewhat what limited because of
smell of food immediately. He misses the
her age and the rate of kidnapping incidents
busy streets at night and hanging out with
that happen in major cities. She sometimes
friends until the moon couldn’t rise any
ventures out alone at night but she stays
higher. He misses sneaking back home at
close to home and doesn’t dare walking to
At only 12 years old Sky, lives a much
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“I enjoy walking down the lively streets, because it makes me feeel alive” anywhere unfamiliar. As Sky grows up, she will slowly gain more freedom, and with this she can further establish relationships and stay out later in the community. Sky claims her school life doesn’t really affect her social life but is an obstacle that she has to get through; “Going to school isn’t very hard, but it’s just really annoying because of all the classes and homework.” However, comparing Jackson’s and Sky’s lives, I can see that Sky’s experience is starting to resembles Jackson’s. Although they are living in opposite sides of the world, her life is starting to become like that of a Silicon Valley teen. Back in the Bay Area, Jackson lingers at the elbow of his English teacher. His social life and sense of connection took a big hit when he moved here to the U.S. two years ago. Jackson revealed to me that not many people here socialize the way he does back home and he had trouble making friends when he first came. He told me a story about him once inviting some of Chinese friends to dinner, but no one was able to come because neither of them have rides, and they didn’t know where the place was. Jackson said he ended up eating dinner alone that night, and he was shocked that nobody could come, even though everyone
“I miss living above a restaurant, and grabbing dinner whenever” 4
5
Visiting some childhood memories 6
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agreed to it. This reveals the problem that we Bay Area residents have grown used to: a lack of knowledge and connection to our surrounding communities and the people around us. Today, China is shedding its cultural identity like a snake shedding its skin, and its
Benxi Shuidong National Park
pace of life and the nature of its community life are becoming more like the U.S. Sky’s on her way to becoming an adult, growing up in a changing culture that once strongly valued connections between friends and family but that now is show signs of individualism and independence from groups. China is becoming more capitalist, which will affect Sky’s period of transition from youth to adulthood. In
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many ways, her life will become like Jackson’s. but it’s just really annoying because of all the classes and homework.” However, comparing Jackson’s and Sky’s lives, I can see that Sky’s experience is starting to resembles Jackson’s. Although they are living in opposite sides of the world, her life is starting to become like that of a Silicon Valley teen. Back in the Bay Area, Jackson lingers at the elbow of his English teacher. His social life and sense of connection took a big hit when he moved here to the U.S. two years ago. Jackson revealed to me that not many people here socialize the way he does back home and he had trouble making friends when he first came. He told me a story about him once inviting
Doing a long exposure shot at night
some of Chinese friends to dinner, but no one was able to come because neither of them have rides, and they didn’t know where the place was. Jackson said he ended up eating dinner alone that night, and he was shocked that nobody could come, even though everyone agreed to it. This reveals the problem that we Bay Area residents have grown used to: a lack of knowledge and connection to our surrounding communities and the people around us. Today, China is shedding its cultural identity like a snake shedding its skin, and its pace of life and the nature of its community life are becoming more like the U.S. Sky’s on her way to becoming an adult, growing up in a changing culture that once strongly valued connections between friends and family but that now is show signs of individualism and independence from groups. China is becoming more capitalist, which will affect Sky’s period of transition from youth to adulthood. In many ways, her life will become like Jackson’s.
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Work Cited Avan. “China Travel Discovery.” China Travel Guide, Travel Discovery, www. chinatraveldiscovery.com/china-travel/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2017. Chang Joe. “How China and America See Each Other.” Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2014, www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/ review-essay/how-china-and-america-see-each-other. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017. Flanders, Stephanie. “China: Does It Have to Become More like Us?” BBC News, BBC, 8 Nov. 2012, www.bbc.com/news/business-20249491. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017. Teemu, Ruskola. “China Is Becoming More Like the U.S.” U.S. News & World Reports, World News, 7 June 2013, www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-china-be-considered-americas-numberone-adve sary/china-is-becoming-more-like-the-us. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017. Shao. Sky. Personal Interview. 23 February 2017 Spross, Jeff. “China’s Biggest Problem? It’s Turning into America.” The Week - All You Need to Know about Everything That Matters, The Week, 18 Mar. 2016, theweek.com/ articles/613321/chinas-biggest-problem-turning-into-america. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017 Xin. Jackson. Personal Interview. 8 March 2017
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Siqi shao is a student at Mountain view High School and is attending Freestyle Academy. He enjoys playing league of legends and spending time friends outside of school. Siqi immigrated to the U.S from China in 2007, and has been back home twice. He appreciates straightforward relationships and deep conversations and spends much of his free time outdoors, whether it’s camping backpacking or fishing alone. Siqi says that he always enjoys being outdoors by himself because he can experience peace, solitude, and shelter from his crowded life.
“A man can be himself only so long as he is alone, and if he does not love
solitude, he will not love freedom, for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.” -Arthur Schopenhauer 11